The Three Men of Melita Zganjer
Encyclopedia
The Three Men of Melita Zganjer is a 1998
award-winning Croatian film
directed
by Snježana Tribuson, who also wrote the screenplay for the film.
in Zagreb
. Melita is infatuated with Juan (Filip Šovagović
), a character in a popular Spanish telenovela
aired on local TV, and at the same time tries to get Janko (Goran Navojec), the cake delivery man, to notice her. Her affection for Janko goes unnoticed and Melita turns to Jura (Ivo Gregurević
), a police officer and colleague of her roommate Eva (Sanja Vejnović). However, Melita soon finds Jura's interest in her superficial and, upon hearing that Juan would come to Zagreb to play an UNPROFOR
soldier in a locally produced film dealing with the Croatian War of Independence
, Melita succeeds in meeting him, but is immediately disappointed as the Spanish actor is nothing like his character in the telenovela. In the end, Melita learns that Janko likes her and ends up with him... 69
, including Best Screenplay
(Snježana Tribuson), Best Scenography (Vladimir Domitrović), Film Editing (Marina Barac), Best Supporting Actress (Suzana Nikolić) and Best Supporting Actor (Ivo Gregurević). The film was also screened at the 2000 Cinequest Film Festival
.
1998 in film
-Events:* February 14 - Sharon Stone marries Phil Bronstein.* Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver at a California shopping mall.-Top grossing films:...
award-winning Croatian film
Cinema of Croatia
The cinema of Croatia has a somewhat shorter tradition than what is common for other Central European countries: the serious beginning of Croatian cinema starts with the rise of the Yugoslavian film industry in the 1940s...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Snježana Tribuson, who also wrote the screenplay for the film.
Synopsis
The film has been described as a "lighthearted comedy" and centers on Melita Žganjer (Mirjana Rogina), a 30-something single woman who works as a vendor in a small cake shopCake shop
For the NYC venue Cake Shop, see Cake Shop NYCA cake shop is a retail business specialising in cakes. It is the English culture equivalent to a French pâtisserie....
in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. Melita is infatuated with Juan (Filip Šovagović
Filip Šovagovic
Filip Šovagović is a Croatian actor, playwright and journalist.At first known simply as the son of renowned Croatian actor Fabijan Šovagović borned in Ladimirevci, Filip Šovagović has appeared in many films and TV shows in the last decade and a half, gradually building a reputation of his own.His...
), a character in a popular Spanish telenovela
Telenovela
A telenovela is a limited-run serial dramatic programming popular in Latin American, Portuguese, and Spanish television programming. The word combines tele, short for televisión or televisão , and novela, a Spanish or Portuguese word for "novel"...
aired on local TV, and at the same time tries to get Janko (Goran Navojec), the cake delivery man, to notice her. Her affection for Janko goes unnoticed and Melita turns to Jura (Ivo Gregurević
Ivo Gregurevic
Ivo Gregurević is a Croatian actor. In more than quarter of century Gregurević usually played rural bullies and arrogant nouveau riche and became one of Croatia's best known and most dependable character actors.Gregurević graduated from the Drama Academy in Zagreb and has worked in over 90 movies...
), a police officer and colleague of her roommate Eva (Sanja Vejnović). However, Melita soon finds Jura's interest in her superficial and, upon hearing that Juan would come to Zagreb to play an UNPROFOR
United Nations Protection Force
The United Nations Protection Force ', was the first United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav wars. It existed between the beginning of UN involvement in February 1992, and its restructuring into other forces in March 1995...
soldier in a locally produced film dealing with the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
, Melita succeeds in meeting him, but is immediately disappointed as the Spanish actor is nothing like his character in the telenovela. In the end, Melita learns that Janko likes her and ends up with him... 69
Cast
- Mirjana Rogina as Melita Žganjer
- Goran Navojec as Janko
- Suzana Nikolić as Višnja
- Sanja Vejnović as Eva
- Ena BegovićEna BegovicEna Begović was a Croatian actress.Begović began acting early, making her first screen appearance at the age of 16 through a small part in Okupacija u 26 slika, a controversial 1976 film directed by Lordan Zafranović...
as Maria - Filip ŠovagovićFilip ŠovagovicFilip Šovagović is a Croatian actor, playwright and journalist.At first known simply as the son of renowned Croatian actor Fabijan Šovagović borned in Ladimirevci, Filip Šovagović has appeared in many films and TV shows in the last decade and a half, gradually building a reputation of his own.His...
as Juan / Felipe Mulero - Ivo GregurevićIvo GregurevicIvo Gregurević is a Croatian actor. In more than quarter of century Gregurević usually played rural bullies and arrogant nouveau riche and became one of Croatia's best known and most dependable character actors.Gregurević graduated from the Drama Academy in Zagreb and has worked in over 90 movies...
as Jura - Ljubomir KerekešLjubomir KerekešLjubomir Kerekeš is a Croatian theatre, television and film actor.Kerekeš began acting in 1980 in his hometown of Varaždin and between 1982 and 1996 was a member of the theatre ensemble at the Croatian National Theatre in Varaždin...
as Žac
Awards
The film won five Golden Arena awards at the 1998 Pula Film FestivalPula Film Festival
The Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival which is held annually in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula arena since 1954. The festival is usually held in the summer, in July or August....
, including Best Screenplay
Golden Arena for Best Screenplay
The following is a list of winners of the Golden Arena for Best Screenplay at the Pula Film Festival.-List of winners:The following is a list of winners of the Golden Arena for Best Screenplay at the Pula Film Festival.-Yugoslav competition :...
(Snježana Tribuson), Best Scenography (Vladimir Domitrović), Film Editing (Marina Barac), Best Supporting Actress (Suzana Nikolić) and Best Supporting Actor (Ivo Gregurević). The film was also screened at the 2000 Cinequest Film Festival
Cinequest Film Festival
The Cinequest Film Festival is an annual independent film festival held in San Jose, California. The festival highlights the work of new film makers....
.
External links
- The Three Men of Melita Zganjer at Filmski-Programi.hr