Croatian film director Jakov Sedlar has showcased his new documentary film about the controversial topic of former WW2 concentration camp Jasenovac, which made its Croatian premiere on April 4, 2016 in Kino Europa, Zagreb.
The subject is a sore one, it still has the power to cause arguments and divide opinion all these years later and yet, we are still so lost in the mist that time period is shrouded in despite fierce opinions.
Jakov Sedlar was born in 1952 in Split, he studied in Zagreb and has since devoted his life to film, some of his well known works are The Unknown Holocaust, Hrvati i Srbi (Croats and Serbs) and Ne zaboravi me (Don't forget me). In this, his latest film, he uncovers the delicate subject of Jasenovac very objectively and without an agenda, presenting evidence neutrally, which is a move not yet made by the Left or the Right.
Previously unseen and never published documents, photos and footage about Jasenovac and its role both during and after the war casts new light on the events that took place in the camp that are, to this very day, still so mysterious. The film also discusses Cardinal Stepinac, Ante Pavelic's personal views with the presentation of previously unread private letters, the true nature of Tito's Yugoslavia and the relationship of both the NDH and SFRJ to the Jews and Israel. The film is a truly neutral, a-political, well directed piece that has both historical and cultural meaning.
Minister of Culture, Zlatko Hasanbegovic and the Ambassador of Israel to Croatia were among various public figures in attendance.
The film is in Croatian language, but English subtitles are available.
