These Are the Rules


These Are the Rules is a Croatian 2014 drama film written and directed by Ognjen Sviličić.

Plot

Maja, Ivo and their 18-year-old son Tomica are an ordinary family from Zagreb. Maja and Ivo are nearing retirement and are struggling financially while Tomica is unemployed after graduating from high school.
One day, for no apparent reason, Tomica is attacked and beaten by a group of kids in the street. The next day, he suffers from a strong headache. His parents take him to hospital, but the doctors find only minor injuries. Soon after, Tomica collapses and slides into a coma, and it becomes clear that his condition is life-threatening. Maja and Ivo are suddenly thrown into a challenging situation, in which they decide to fight against the apathetic system.

Cast

Production and themes

The film's screenplay is inspired by a real-life 2008 incident in which Luka Ritz, an 18-year-old high school graduate, died of injuries sustained in a seemingly senseless attack by a group of teens. His case received high-profile media coverage in Croatia and led to the establishment of the national Luka Ritz Award for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence in schools. In the words of Ognjen Sviličić:

Release

The film's world premiere took place on 29 August 2014, in the Horizons section of the 71st Venice International Film Festival. It was the first Croatian film shown at the Venice Film Festival since Zrinko Ogresta's Red Dust in 1999.

Accolades

The film won the Jury Grand Prix at 2014's Les Arcs International Film Festival. Ognjen Sviličić won the Best Director award at the Warsaw Film Festival in Poland. Emir Hadžihafizbegović won the Venice Horizons Award for Best Actor or Actress at the 71st Venice International Film Festival in Italy and had also won the Golden Arena for Best Actor at the Pula Film Festival in Croatia.