Biyografi Dünyası
The Abandoned (Ostavljeni)

The Abandoned (Ostavljeni)

Movie · 2010 · 6 people

From Adis Bakrač comes the 2010 Bosnian drama The Abandoned (original title Ostavljeni). It is a Croatian-French co-production; its producers include Almir Šahinović, Marie-Anne Coste and Page Ostrow. The screenplay is by Zlatko Topčić, whose script won the 2003 CineLink competition and caught the attention of international producers.

At the heart of the story is Alen, a thirteen-year-old living in a children's home. He wants to learn who he is and where he comes from, but the search pulls him into a criminal world. Through one child's journey, the film shows the devastation left by war and the great injustice it inflicted on its most helpless victims, children. Tony Grga plays Alen, alongside Mira Furlan, Mirsad Tuka, Mirela Lambić, Dragan Marinković, Meto Jovanovski and Zijah Sokolović.

The film had its world premiere on July 8, 2010, at the 45th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. It was first shown in Bosnia and Herzegovina on December 7, 2010, and its US premiere followed on February 2, 2011, at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Tony Grga won the Golden Arena for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 2010 Pula Film Festival.

DirectorAdis Bakrac

Reactions

You can pick up to 3 reactions.

Cast

Names without a link have no profile here yet.

Also in the cast: Tony Grga (Alen), Mirsad Tuka (Mirza), Mirela Lambić (Amila)

Titles sharing this cast

Through different eyes

AI-assisted editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives. They are not reader reviews; those are below.

History & Society Lens Asks about the period, the social background and what the work reflects.

Ostavljeni looks at the most defenseless victims of war: children. Thirteen-year-old Alen, who lives in a children's home and wants to learn who he is and where he comes from, becomes a personal reflection of the devastation the war left in Bosnia. That his search for identity drags him into a criminal world is a sobering observation about the fragile fabric of post-war societies. Zlatko Topčić's screenplay makes the subject concrete through one child's journey, putting the person before the lesson. The film is too short to open up such a heavy legacy from every side.

Family Viewer Asks whether the whole household can watch it; cares about humor and heart.

The subject is very heavy: a 13-year-old raised in a children's home, searching for his roots and drawn into a criminal world. It shows the harm war does to children. It is not a film to watch with young kids. Teenagers watching with an adult will find a lot to think about. Tony Grga's performance is strong and he earned his award.

Action & Thriller Fan Puts pace, tension and set pieces first; little patience for slow drama.

Hear "criminal world" and expect a fast thriller, and you'll be wrong. The Abandoned is a quiet, character-driven drama that builds tension not through action but through Alen being drawn toward danger. That creates an unsettling undercurrent. It is short and tight. One for an evening when you want feeling rather than pace.

Reviews (0)

Log in Log in to write a review.

Comments