Gangster of Love

Gangster te voli

About the film

Gangester of Love is a documentary comedy, which pinpoints some serious social issues. Twenty-five years ago Nedjeljko Babic left his job as a carpenter to start his God-given career: matching lonely menand women. He became famous very fast, thanks to his skill, but also his nickname – Gangster. He got it solely thanks to his image: he always wears sunglasses. His whole life Gangster helps men and women from his region to find a soul mate. But lately his job is more difficult than ever – women do not want to live in villages anymore. In recent years Gangster’s clients are mostly uneducated middle-aged men, seemingly desperate to find a life partner. But story of our film unmasks the real complexity of their problem.

When Maya (33), young and pretty Bulgarian girl, comes to Gangster looking for a new husband, it seems that it will be an easy case for him. But the fact that she is a single mother, and a foreigner, makes it a mission impossible for Gangster – it seems that Croatian guys, no matter how desperate they are to find a woman, does not want a Bulgarian with a child. Her case discloses all the tragic absurdity of the traditional men in modern society: although they are lonely and desperate to find a woman, their stubborn conservatism prevents them in adopting different. Marin (45) is typical of the kind. He is good-looking and smart, but passive and unable to overcome oppression of his community. He likes Maya, but he does not dare to admit it. We also follow Gangster’s dealing with Peter (42), German guy whose father is Croat from Gangster’s village. Peter is disappointed in western women, so he comes to his father’s native land in search of more traditional women.

These three characters form one story and paint a big picture of a contradictory and troublesome relationship between men and women in a world torn between traditional and modern.

Director: Nebojša Slijepčević
Screenwriters: Nebojša Slijepčević, Vanja Jambrović
DOP: Nebojša Slijepčević
Editors: Nebojša Slijepčević, Iva Kraljević
Sound designers: Vlada Božić, Milan Čekić
Sound designer (TV version): Hrvoje Radnić
Sound recordists: Tibor Trifković, Malvina Trifković
Color grading: Nikola Bišćan, Studio Guberović
Designer: Irena Mihalinec

Producer: Vanja Jambrović (Restart)
Co-producers: Stefan Kloos (Kloos&Co.), Florin Iepan (Sub-Cult-Ura Films), Morana Komljenović (Fade In)
Associate producer: Oliver Sertić
Production: Restart (HR)
Co-production: Kloos & Co. (DE), ZDF/ARTE, Sub-Cult-Ura Films (RO), Fade In (HR)

Languages: Croatian, German

Special screenings:

  • 13.06.2013 – Pakrac, HR – City Hall, festival MultiPak2
  • 25.06. 2013 – Islam Grčki, HR – Kula Janković, ‘Winter summer holidays – Film and Art Festival’ in the organization of Center for Peace Studies
  • 19.07.2013 – Karlovac, HR – Open air cinema screening at Foginovo kupalište
  • 20.07. 2013 – Rijeka, HR – HKD, Ex Oriente Film screening for participants and tutors
  • 02.08. 2013 – Imotski, HR cinema hall Imotski
  • 12.08.2013 – Island Šipan, HR – Summer Film School
  • 21.12.2013 – Lastovo, HR – special screening at cinema Lastovo
  • 08.03. 2014 – Vladivostok, RU – special cinema screening
  • 11.07.2014. – Exit Festival, Novi Sad, RS

Theatrical distribution in more than 65 cinemas in Croatia.

Nebojša Slijepčević is a screenwriter and film director from Zagreb, Croatia. He has directed numerous creative documentaries (Srbenka, Gangster of Love, Something about Life, Real Man’s Film, In 4 Years, Of Cows and People). His films have been shown at many international festivals, including IDFA, Hot Docs and Karlovy Vary Film Festival. His most successful film “Srbenka” has won more than 20 festival awards and it has been shortlisted for European Film Awards. Nebojsa is an artistic director for documentary film at production company “Zagreb film” and a lecturer at Academy of Dramatic Arts, in Zagreb.

Gangster of Love

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