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Mirage

Original Title: Iluzija

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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

ESPOO CINÉ

Aug 19 – 24

2006

FESTIVAL CINÉMA MEDITERRANÉEN Á BRUXELLES

Nov 23 – 02

EVREUX FILM FESTIVAL

Nov 21 – 26

ESPOO CINÉ IFF (ILUZIJA)

Aug 22 – 27

AVANCA FILM FESTIVAL

Jul 26 – 30

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL IN POLAND

May 09 – Jun 04

BUFF FILMFESTIVAL

Mar 14 – 19

MONTPELLIER-HAUS

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

Eddie Cockrell

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