Lazar Stojanović

Birth : 1944-03-01, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

History

Lazar Stojanović was a student at the Belgrade Academy of Dramatic Arts in the early 1970s when he made his thesis film, Plastic Jesus. As Josip Broz Tito’s government experienced radical shifts, the film was confiscated as subversive, Stojanovć was thrown in jail along with other student reformist leaders and artists, and scenes were redacted. It was not until 1990 that the film was released.

Movies

Doctor Ray and the Devils
Samuel Bronston
The story behind and around famous American director Nicholas Ray's 1960s stay in SFR Yugoslavia. The celebrated director who was the toast of Hollywood only a decade earlier having made Rebel Without a Cause has fallen on hard times and is now desperately trying to re-establish his spiraling film career. On the other hand, his powerful host, Avala Film director and former Yugoslav secret service operative Ratko Dražević, is dreaming big dreams - he is trying to establish a 'Hollywood behind the Iron Curtain' of sorts.
The Old School of Capitalism
Ratiborov otac
A mixture of documentary and fiction examines the new god of Capitalism offered to the Serbs with the ending of state socialism. We look at a number of strikes in Belgrade during the late 2000s and these introduce us to several characters playing themselves. Employees dressed in American football helmets and pads square up with employers' heavies in their bullet-proof vests, resulting in explosive situations. A visit from the Russian tycoon's representative and vice president Joe Biden's arrival further complicates the proceedings.
Censored without Censorship
Himself
Through the conversation with Yugoslav film authors and excerpts from their films, this documentary film tells a story of a film phenomenon and censorship, and its focus is, in fact, a painful epoch of Yugoslav film called “a Black Wave”, which was the most important and artistically strongest period of Yugoslav film industry, created in the sixties and buried in the early seventies by means of ideological and political decisions. The film tells a great “thriller” story of the ideological madness which characterised the totalitarian psychology having left multiple consequences felt up to our very days. It stresses similarities between totalitarian regimes defending their taboos on the example of the persecution of the most important Yugoslav film authors. Those film authors have, however, made world careers and inspired many later authors. The film is the beginning of a debt pay-off to the most significant Yugoslav film authors.
Life and Deeds of Radovan Karadzic
Director
Biography and secret life of war criminal Radovan Karadzic, the leader of Bosnian Serbs.
A Mess in the House
Writer
Zagreb in 1942. The police blocks on of the houses while looking for one of the communist officials hiding in the apartment of young female illegal fighter. Them two manage to escape, however police kills her husband. In the house, her small baby is left, which police wants to use as a bait so they could catch them. Children who live in the neighborhood steal the baby, upon which the police starts thorough search of the house.
Plastic Jesus
Director
Tom is a young guy from Zagreb, completely without money, trying to make films in Belgrade. He somehow manages to survive with a help of women. He doesn't believe in anybody, respects no one and is in constant conflict with the ruling system and order. After being left by a silly American girl, Tom binds with a woman whose husband is abroad. When she kicks him out, he moves in with her husband's sister, who later kills him in the attack of jealousy. All this is shown in the context of major historical events prior to 1968. with lots of archive footage of world leaders.