Croatia has selected its official entry for the best international feature category at the Oscars, with the selection being 'God Will Not Help,' a period drama directed by Hana Jusic. The film is set in rural Croatia around 1910 and follows a Chilean widow who disrupts a traditional, patriarchal community of sheep herders. Jusic describes the project as a mesmerizing blend of gothic drama and genre horror, marking a significant evolution in her directorial style.
The narrative centers on Teresa, a mysterious woman played by Chilean actress and director Manuela Martelli. Teresa claims to be the widow of a local man who emigrated years earlier to seek fortune in the New World. She bonds with Milena, another outsider in the community, played by Ana Marija Veselcic. However, Teresa's arrival threatens the traditional assumptions held by the village men, creating tension within the insular society.
Jusic explained that the story originated after she saw Martelli in a short film and developed a desire to collaborate with her. Although Croatia and Chile are geographically distant, the director noted a significant historical connection, as Croatia experienced a large wave of emigration to Chile in the early 20th century. She conceptualized a story about a woman returning from the New World to the Old, a concept that was considered inconceivable at the time.
A central element of the film is the language barrier. Teresa does not speak Croatian, and no one in the village speaks Spanish. Jusic was fascinated by the idea of building a story on mutual misunderstanding. The characters develop a unique form of communication based on emotions and signs. They utilize biblical symbols, a shared reference point due to the spread of Catholicism, to convey their meanings to one another.
The director also addressed the modern relevance of the historical setting. She observed that Croatia is currently experiencing its first major wave of immigration, with workers arriving from countries such as the Philippines and Nepal. This shift has prompted a reaction from a population that had previously been the emigrants. Jusic incorporated this contemporary fear of the unknown into the script, highlighting the position of women in a society that is more severe than today's.
The film plays with genre conventions, particularly the trope of the witch. In the religious society depicted, women who do not conform to norms are often accused of witchery. Jusic noted that Teresa eventually understands this dynamic and begins to taunt the community on purpose. This was the first time the director aimed to write a script with elements of thriller and genre mystery, maintaining an atmosphere of suspense throughout the narrative.
Gothic literature served as a major inspiration for the visual and thematic tone. Jusic cited 'Wuthering Heights' and the myth of the Bronte sisters as significant influences. The image of a troubled woman in a black dress walking through the moors with the wind in her hair remained a strong presence in her mind for years and is considered the essence of the film.
The title 'God Will Not Help' was borrowed from a collection of short stories by Croatian poet Marko Pogacar. Jusic felt the script aligned well with the name and secured the rights to use it. The title is intentionally provocative, challenging the idea that a higher power is constantly intervening in human affairs. Jusic wanted to suggest that while God may not help, people can help each other, as seen in the relationship between the two female protagonists.
The film's reception in Croatia has been notable. During a festival screening in Zagreb, the title on a poster in a main square was frequently crossed out by passersby, altering it to 'God Will Help.' This reaction aligned with Jusic's intent to provoke a response to the return of traditional values in the country. The film is presented in this edition of THR Presents, which is sponsored by Kinorama.
