Director Urša Menart developed her latest film based on observations of a contemporary internet phenomenon where young people, predominantly women, fabricate tragic personal narratives to capture followers’ attention. The project was particularly inspired by Menart’s curiosity about those who engaged with these accounts, traveling across distances to meet the individuals behind the posts.
The narrative follows Maruša, a Slovenian character returning home after time spent in Berlin following her mother’s death. She forms a connection with Alja, a nurse based in a small German coastal town, through online messaging. The developing relationship between the two women becomes complicated when they meet face-to-face. Menart noted that the extended development period, nearly seven years, allowed her to deepen the material and research while working on other projects.
The director emphasized that the film’s thematic concerns regarding isolation, human connection, and the pressures facing young women have gained relevance in recent years. She deliberately focused on female perspectives, noting the richness of women’s experiences that remain underexplored in cinema. The production involved significant logistical considerations, including the decision to film in the German seaside town of Heringsdorf, chosen for its contrasting landscape to Slovenia’s terrain. Working with Dutch cinematographer Roy van Egmond, who brought documentary sensibilities to the shoot, proved essential to capturing the intimate dynamic between the two main characters.
Menart conducted open auditions specifically seeking Slovenian actors to preserve authentic language use. The two leads, Anuša Kodelja and Klara Kuk, initially submitted auditions for opposite roles, ultimately bringing unexpected dimensions to their assigned characters. The director spent considerable time developing the characters and script alongside the actors following casting. The film marks Menart’s return to the Sarajevo Film Festival, where the project received industry support during its development phase. Production involved collaboration between entities from Slovenia, Germany, and Serbia.
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