Ikon Arts Foundation

After directing several dramas for film and television during the 1980s and 1990s, Zrinko Ogresta became known as one of Croatia’s most successful mainstream filmmakers. In 2004, he transitioned to art film with Tu (Here), a wartime drama co-written with Bosnian-Herzegovinian novelist Josip Mlakić that picked up the award for best film at the Pula Film Festival. Four years later, Ogresta’s Iza stakla (Behind the Glass), a romantic drama focusing on five tense days in the lives of an architect, his wife, and his mistress, was voted best film by the audience at the Motovun Film Festival in 2008.

Last week, Ogresta released his first feature film in five years. Titled Projekcije (Projections), the 80-minute film takes place in one just room, where eight psychiatrists-in-training wait for their professor who, on the last day of the course, is running late. In the absence of their teacher, the future psychiatrists begin to analyze each other, dissecting their own problems and frustrations. Ogresta admits that his motives for making the film were personal: in the past, he sought guidance from a psychiatrist, though he admits that despite their professional training, psychiatrists are essentially people with problems to. Projections shows just that.

Apart from toying with the classical representation of the authoritative and composed therapist who expertly diagnoses his trouble patient, Ogresta also saw Projections as an opportunity to experiment with his approach. He chose to shoot in real time, and his director of photography, Branko Linta, shot the film from the perspective of each character, ultimately bringing viewers even closer to the story.

Written by Elaine Ritchel (@elaineritchel)