God Will Not Help
In this dark historical drama, deeply religious Teresa arrives in a remote Croatian shepherd village carrying the bones of her late husband and claiming to be the widow of a local man.
God Will Not Help by Croatian Hana Jušić is a film true to its name. The harsh story, set in a poor and bare nomad region does not let anyone off easily. The twists of the story, gorgeously filmed by Jana Plećaš, keep the viewer on the edge of their seat to the very end. The characters, on the other hand, languish entangled in the hardships of life and a lack of a common language.
The story begins with the arrival of Chilean Teresa at Milena’s home farm in Croatia. Teresa says she is the widow of Milena’s brother Marko, who had travelled across the ocean in hopes of a better life. As it is the early 1900s, the family had not received news of Marko’s fate.
Teresa only knows Spanish and Milena only knows Croatian. The women use Teresa’s notebook with her naivistic paintings and Milena’s handicrafts to describe situations to each other. After Milena’s brother Nikola shows up, Teresa demands to meet Marko’s other brother Ilija. She does, with fateful consequences.
Jušic cleverly shows us everything we need to know: the characters talk to each other as if the other understands, and thus we find out what they think. Manuela Martelli, Ana Marija Veselčići and others give strong acting performances in this amazingly realistic film, accompanied by a majestic soundtrack.
Jaana Semeri (translated by Ailiina Saaristo)
Screenings
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Kino TöölöTue 22.9. at 17.30–19.47137 min, 1/3
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Maxim 2Thu 24.9. at 20.00–22.17137 min, 2/3
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Gilda 1Sun 27.9. at 13.15–15.32137 min, 3/3