Capsule Film Review: Metastases (Metastaze, 2009)

Branko Schmidt is often seen as one of Croatia's best or the most interesting filmmakers, but such reputation is relatively recent, built on the series of gritty dramas about contemporary Croatia, starting with 2009 Metastases. Based on the novel by Ivo Balenović, this film was at times advertised as Croatian Trainspotting, mainly because its protagonists are four friends from the bottom sections of Zagreb society and whose lives revolve around local soccer club Dinamo, fueled by plenty of alcohol and drug abuse, hooliganism, petty and sometimes not so petty crime. Unlike Danny Boyle's film, Metastases is made in realistic style, unaided by any "cool" soundtrack or traces of humour. Despite that and despite some less than fortunate elements of the script, it is surprisingly good for Croatian standards, aided by excellent cast, especially formidable Rene Bitorajac in the role of sociopathic skinhead Krpa.

RATING: 7/10