The story, co-written by Hamzagić and Emina Omerović, is set in a supermarket, where a new boss begins making demanding changes that the low-paid workers find intolerable. At the store’s tenth-anniversary public celebration, one of the women workers takes the stage and reads a statement criticising the poor working conditions. Shots are fired, the manager is taken hostage, and a crisis unfolds with tragic results. The director was inspired by the exploitative situation that unfolded in his country, coupled with the difficulties workers faced during the pandemic lockdown, and the powerless position of many women in the workforce.

The film has a budget of 768,177 EUR, with 100,724 EUR secured from Fond Otvoreno Društvo BiH for development and the Ministry of Culture and Sport - Canton Sarajevo for production. The filmmakers are seeking coproduction companies (one from neighbouring territory and one from the EU), as well as sales companies.

Filming is planned for late 2023/early 2024.

The director’s debut film Full Moon (2019, also produced by SCCA/pro.ba) won the Ecumenical Award, the Best Actor Prize and the Special Pitch Award at Film Festival Cottbus. The film was also nominated for the European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI at the 2020 European Film Awards.

Hamzagić’s previous work includes documentary and theatre productions, as well as short films. He has also worked in the programming department of the Sarajevo Film Festival.

SCCA/pro.ba’s films have been screened at leading film festivals worldwide including Toronto, Berlin, Venice, and Rotterdam.

Production Information:

Producer:
SCCA/pro.ba (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
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Credits:
Director: Nermin Hamzagić
Scriptwriters: Nermin Hamzagić, Emina Omerović