Murina – Watch the trailer for Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic’s new drama

Written and directed by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic, produced by Martin Scorsese and with cinematography by Hélène Louvart (The Lost Daughter), Murina was winner of the Camera D’Or Award at Cannes last year, Best Film at the Hamptons Film Festival and the Audience Award at Pula. It will be released nationwide in UK cinemas on 8 April and will be available on virtual cinema from 9 May.

You can read our reviews of the film here and here.

In MURINA tensions rise between restless teenager Julija and her oppressive father Ante when an old family friend arrives at their Croatian island home. As Ante attempts to broker a life-changing deal, their tranquil yet isolated existence leaves Julija wanting more from this influential visitor, who provides a taste of liberation over a weekend laid bare to desire and violence.

Both an evocative coming-of-age tale and gripping psychological drama, MURINA stars Gracija Filipović (Into the Blue) as the oppressed yet fierce Julija in an electric performance with cast members Danica Čurčić (Silent Heart), Leon Lučev (Circles) and Cliff Curtis (The Dark Horse). Set on a sunny, glittering coastline, MURINA’s beautiful cinematography and atmospheric sound design heighten the emotions of its characters exposed to the sea, sun, rocks and each other.

Born in Dubrovnik, MURINA’s writer/director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic previously garnered acclaim with her short film Into the Blue, winning awards at Berlin, Sarajevo and Oberhausen. Her debut feature MURINA is produced by Martin Scorsese, Sikelia, RT features and Antitalent. Cinematography by Hélène Louvart (The Lost Daughter, Rocks, Happy as Lazzaro).

Describing the nature of her lead character as she confronts the chauvinist limitations of the society she’s known her whole life, Antoneta said. “Julija has an intuition for these dynamics, and for me that is a divine spark I see in young girls. She is like the murina, the moray eel, an animal that will bite its own flesh to break free from a fisherman. Her power is her faith in herself, in nature, and in the unknown. Her power is that she refuses to be silenced.”