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The Marathon Family
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Wikipedia article
'The Marathon Family' (, 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 Duan Kovaevi and directed by Serbian director Slobodan ijan. It has become a cult film in Serbia and other countries from the former Yugoslavia regionhttp://www.sff.ba/en/news/9965/gala-in-memoriam-screening-of-the-marathon-family-in-honour-of-bora-todorovic- "Gala In Memoriam Screening of "The Marathon Family" in Honour of Bora Todorovi" and is regarded as one of the classics of Yugoslav Serbian cinematography.
Plot
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, Topalovis' 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, Topalovis 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 Topalovis 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, Topalovis 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. Topalovis 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 Topalovis and Bili Piton, in which Bili Piton is killed, and then a chase between Topalovis and the police, with a scene abruptly cut just as raging Mirko attempts to run over a police officer fallen from a bicycle.
Cast
*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 Konjhodi 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
*Neboja Terzi as Priest ura
*Nikola Brodac as Deceased
Awards
The Marathon Family won two awards in 1982, including the Jury Prize at the Montral World Film Festival and the "Best Actress" award at the Pula Film Festival, which went to Seka Sabli for her portrayal of Kristina.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084302/awards?ref_=tt_awd imdb awards]
See also
*List of Yugoslavian films
References
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