The Marathon Family (Serbo-Croatian: Maratonci tr?e po?asni krug, lit. Marathon Runners Do a Lap of Honour, or often simply Maratonci, lit. The Marathon Runners) is a 1982 Yugoslav black comedy film written by Dušan Kova?evi? and directed by Serbian director Slobodan Šijan. It has become a cult film in Serbia and other countries from the former Yugoslavia region and is regarded as one of the classics of Yugoslav Serbian cinematography.
The Marathon Family (Maratonci tr?e po?asni krug) | |
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Directed by | Slobodan Šijan |
Produced by | Milan Zmuki? |
Written by | Dušan Kova?evi? |
Starring |
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Music by | Zoran Simjanovi? |
Cinematography | Božidar Nikoli? |
Edited by | Lana Vukobratovi? |
Distributed by | Centar Film |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
Country | Yugoslavia |
Language | Serbo-Croatian |
Screenplay
The story takes place in an unnamed small Serbian town in 1935, and focuses on the Topalovi? family consisting of six generations of undertakers: gravely ill Pantelija, wheelchair-bound Maksimilijan who's also mute and nearly deaf, rheumatic Aksentije, sober-minded Milutin, impulsive and narcissistic Laki, and young and naive Mirko. Constantly bickering amongst each other, the latest family arguments arise from the youngest son, Mirko, not wanting to continue the family business of coffin-making. Deeply in love with a local girl Kristina, the daughter of a local hoodlum Bili Piton, he's looking to avoid the career path of his father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc.
Though operating out of a prominently located shop in the town, Topalovi?s' business is mostly based on illegal activities. Instead of making brand new coffins, they simply recycle already used ones with the help of Bili Piton, whose men dig them out from the local cemetery during the night. Once they get their hands on the coffins that had been dug up, Topalovi?s simply refurbish them and sell them as new, thereby making a large profit with very little overhead. Based on mutual financial interest, the business relationship between Topalovi?s and Bili is deteriorating by the day as they owe him a large sum of money for the past services rendered and show no intention of paying him.
In parallel, Topalovi?s are in the finishing stages of building a modern crematory on which they're placing high hopes as the future source of income.
One day, the oldest Topalovi?, Pantelija, dies and leaves family inheritance to himself because he does not trust his successors. Topalovi?s leave business with Bili Piton and he threatens to report them to the police for killing a man in a car accident. Bili's daughter, Mirko's love Kristina wishes to become an actress in (mostly pornographic) movies made by Mirko's best friend ?enka. However, she cheats on Mirko with ?enka, so outraged Mirko kills her when he finds out. He returns to his family and makes himself their leader by force, while ?enka is accidentally burned alive by the deaf Maksimilijan, while repairing the crematorium. The movie ends with a showdown between the Topalovi?s and Bili Piton, in which Bili Piton is killed, and then a chase between Topalovi?s and the police, with a scene abruptly cut just as raging Mirko attempts to run over a police officer fallen from a bicycle.
The Marathon Family won two awards in 1982, including the Jury Prize at the Montréal World Film Festival and the "Best Actress" award at the Pula Film Festival, which went to Seka Sabli? for her portrayal of Kristina.
- Bogdan Dikli? as Mirko Topalovi?
- Bata Stojkovi? as Laki Topalovi?
- Pavle Vujisi? as Milutin Topalovi?
- Mija Aleksi? as Aksentije Topalovi?
- Milivoje Tomi? as Maksimilijan Topalovi?
- Radislav Lazarevi? as Pantelija Topalovi?
- Zoran Radmilovi? as Billy the Python (Bili Piton)
- Seka Sabli? as Kristina
- Bora Todorovi? as ?enka
- Melita Bihali as Olja the maid
- Fahro Konjhodži? as Mr Rajkovi?
- Veljko Mandi? as Rajkovi?'s brother
- Bata Paskaljevi? as Older gendarme
- Dragoljub-Gula Milosavljevi? as Mourner (as Dragoljub Milosavljevi?)
- Miroslav Jovanovi? as 1st Twin
- Dragoslav Jovanovi? as 2nd Twin
- Milovan Tasi? as The Giant
- Milan Janji? as Midget
- Ras Rastoder as Younger gendarme
- Stanojlo Milinkovi? as Villager
- Vojislav Micovi? as Old man at cemetery
- Nebojša Terzi? as Priest ?ura
- Nikola Brodac as Deceased
- List of Yugoslavian films