Original Title: Iluzija
Synopsis
MIRAGE is a beautiful and tragic tale of a talented schoolboy driven to despair by bullying, neglect and betrayal set amidst the turmoil of modern day Macedonia…
Marko’s world is collapsing around him. Gambling and alcohol poison life at home, while ruthless bullies make school unbearable.
When his teacher encourages the talented 12-year-old to enter a poetry competition which could win him a trip to Paris, he dreams of escaping from the weary world he has been born into.
As circumstances grow worse, Marko sinks deeper into his refuge of hopes and dreams. When he befriends a solitary soldier of fortune, Marko learns hard new lessons in how to survive, he must either “eat or be eaten”. Ultimately, in seeking justice for a betrayal too bitter to swallow, Marko takes matters into his own hands.
Technical Information
2004; Macedonia, Austria; Drama, Youth; 104 minutes; 35mm, HDCAM-SR; 1:1.85; Dolby SRD; Original Language: Macedonian; Subtitles: English, French
DIRECTOR
Svetozar Ristovski
D.O.P.
Vladimir Samoilovski
EDITOR
Atanas Georgiev
MUSIC
Klaus Hundsbichler
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Small Moves Ltd.
PRODUCER
Svetozar Ristovski
SCREENPLAY
Grace Lea Troje, Svetozar Ristovski
Marko
Marko Kovacevic
Professor
Mustafa Nadarevic
Lazo/Father
Vlado Jovnovski
PARIS
Nikola Djuricko
Chief Of The Police
Dejan Acimovic
Levi
Martin Jovchevski
Fanny
Slavica Manaskova
Angja/Mother
Elena Mosevska
SVETOZAR RISTOVSKI
Svetozar Ristovski was born in Veles, Macedonia and studied architecture and dramatic arts at the University of St. Kiril and Metodij in Skopje, Macedonia. His filmography includes the short documentary Second Class Passengers (1999), the feature length documentary Joy of Life (2001) and the short fiction film Hunter (2000). Mirage is his feature directorial debut.
Selective Filmography
Feature Film
2010 Dear Mr. Gacy
2000 Hunter
Feature Documentary
2001 Radost na zhivotot
2013
INT. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT FILM FESTIVAL
Sep 13 – 19
2008
Aug 19 – 24
2006
FESTIVAL CINÉMA MEDITERRANÉEN Á BRUXELLES
Nov 23 – 02
EVREUX FILM FESTIVAL
Nov 21 – 26
Aug 22 – 27
Jul 26 – 30
EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL IN POLAND
May 09 – Jun 04
Mar 14 – 19
Jan 19 – 29
2005
Zlin –
45TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH THE EUROPA AWARD
Best European Debut
Aug 10
Variety
Superbly modulated … a modest triumph of fearless acting and pointed social commentary in the same vein as “Ivan’s Childhood,”…the script is a marvel of clarity, economy and metaphor.
2004-09-13
Klaus Hundsbichler’s work falls into three areas: as director, editor and composer. He directed, edited and produced “Worldrevolution” and composed the music for “Midsummer Madness”, “Karo und der liebe Gott” and “Mirage”, as well as numerous industrial films and commercials. He edited “Midsummer Madness”, “The Ten Commandments”, which received an Emmy nomination for the editing and numerous music videos (Queen, David Bowie, Gianna Nannini, Falco) as well as – infamously – Frank Zappa’s Baby Snakes movie. His directorial credits include “Tom und die Biberbande”, “Against the Current” and a life of Johann Strauss, as well as many music videos, music documentaries and commercials.
Selective Filmography
Feature Film
2008 La Bohème
2006 Karo und der liebe Gott
2006 The Ten Commandments
2006 Tumsie briezi
2000 Bon Jovi: The Crush Tour
1999 The Venice Project
Feature Documentary
2008 Weltrevolution
1997 Baby Snakes
