Olja is a high school history teacher, married to a painter whose latest exhibition provoked violent reactions from Serbian nationalists. One night, a group of masked hooligans attacks her. They film the attack and upload the clip to YouTube. The next day Olja discovers that some of her students were responsible. She takes away their mobile phones, and in the heat of the moment decides to lock them in the school building, also disconnecting the school phones and the Internet. During that night, a generation that was written off before they were ever given a chance will learn more than they ever expected about themselves and their classmates.
"The viewers are allowed penetrating insight into Olja’s intimacy – listening to her talk to her friends, following her to a club, experiencing hooligans’ attack and everything that follows so that they might eventually (after the students have been locked up) stay 'alone' with those horrible creatures. But soon individuals with their unique stories, romantic attachments and fears start to emerge from the shapeless mass of teenagers. /.../ In their company, we aim to dispel the stereotypes provoked by their appearance." (Stevan Filipović)
Stevan Filipović
Born in 1981 in Belgrade, Serbia, Filipović graduated in film- and TV-editing from the Belgrade Faculty of Dramatic Arts. His first two films enjoyed enthusiastic reception from critics and audiences alike. Next to Me, winner of the Best Feature Film Award at this year’s Pula Film Festival, is his third full-length film.
filmography
2006 Sejtanov ratnik (Sheitan Warrior)
2010 Šišanje (Skinning)
2015 Pored mene (Next to Me)