Wondrous is the Silence of my Master - ENFF

• Date:
• Time: Time depends on the date
• Location: Filmhuis Den Haag

Having been weakened by tuberculosis and under pressure from the Ottomans, Morlak, a fictive leader of 19th-century Montenegro inspired by Petar II Petrović Njegoš, goes to southern Italy for treatment. For his most loyal companion, Đuko, this trip brings on nostalgia and jealousy, particularly because Morlak quickly befriends a visiting scholar. As Đuko’s devotion is transformed into obsession, his inner world begins to fracture.

The director avoids conventional drama, instead crafting sparse vignettes, reminiscent of Albert Serra, where silence and stillness weigh as much as words. Beneath this surface is an understated critique of power imbalances: the fragile position of small Balkan societies caught between East and West, and the colonial gaze of bourgeois elites who view their guests as noble savages. Characters are archetypal, but in this self-aware abstraction, the film is an allegory for displacement and longing. In the deconstruction of mythical nation and omnipotent leaders, Salatić offers a nostalgic examination of identity and exile.

Eastern Neighbors Film Festival 2025

Discover more about the Eastern Neighbours Film Festival – where cinema from Eastern and Southeastern Europe takes centre stage. From 5 to 9 November 2025, explore the full line-up of films, events, and special guests featured in this year’s edition at Filmhuis Den Haag.

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