A man who could not remain silent is a Croatian short drama film from 2024 directed by Nebojša Slijepčević. The plot is based on real events from the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993. The film shows the massacre in Štrpci on February 27, 1993, when the Serbian paramilitary unit “White Eagles” forcibly removed and killed 18 Bosniak civilians and 1 Croat from the train connected on the Belgrade-Bar route. In that tragedy, the only passenger who dared to oppose the crime was retired JNA officer Tomislav (Tomo) Buzov. The main story follows Tom Buzov (in the film Tomo Buzov) – his act of courage and the sacrifice for which he saves the life of a young traveler. The action takes place almost in real time on the passenger train at the moment of stopping and violently purifying the passengers. The film carries a universal message about human conscience and facing injustice.
cast
- Goran Bogdan as Dragan, companion and witness of the event.
- Dragan Mićanović As Tomislav “Tomo” Buzov, retired JNA officer and hero of the story.
- Alexis Manenti as the commander of the paramilitary “White Eagles”.
- Silvio Mumelaš As a boy Milan, one of the young travelers.
- Along with them, Lara Nekić (as a student), Priska Ugrina (as a granddaughter) and other supporting characters appear.
The roles were performed with a lot of dramatic charge, and Goran Bogdan and Dragan Mićanović received special praise for their strong performances.
Directing, script and production
The film was directed and written by Nebojša Slijepčević. It was co-produced by Croatia, Bulgaria, France and Slovenia. In the technical team, cinematographer Gregor Božić and editor Tomislav Stojanović stand out. The short film lasts only 13 minutes, which further emphasizes the power of his narrative – almost without unnecessary talk and dialogue. The script is based on a true event (the trial of criminals in The Hague), but in a dramaturgical sense it was accelerated in order to portray the whole situation and the decisive act of the main character in a short time.
Prizes and awards
The film won the most prestigious short film award at the Cannes Film Festival immediately after the premiere on May 24, 2024. the golden palm (Palme d’Or). He soon won and European Film Academy Award (European Film Award) for the best short film and French César For the best short film of 2025. In addition, the film was nominated for the 97th Awards Oscar (2025) in the category of the best short feature film, thus becoming the first Croatian film nominated for an Oscar since the independence of the country. Other major festival successes include the Grand Prix for a short film in Melbourne (2024) and special awards at numerous European festivals. Some of the key awards and nominations are:
- Golden Palm – Best Short Film, Cannes Film Festival 2024
- European Film Academy Award – The best European short film (2024).
- Oscar nomination in 2025 – The best short feature film.
- César (France) – Best short feature film (2025).
critical review
Critics especially highlighted the atmosphere and way of storytelling. Reviewers claim that the film uses an almost mute, tense direction – silence and anticipation on the train are excellently depicted. According to Rimante Daugelaita, the selector of the Lithuanian Short Film Festival, “It’s hard to imagine another film using silence and tension so effectively” – As he says, the viewer literally feels as if he is “on the 1993 train”, remaining mute and aware of the injustice. The film is also praised for its universal message: although the action takes place on a train in a war zone, it confronts the viewer with a moral dilemma that is applicable in every time and society. In short, Critic He thinks that A man who could not remain silent A skillfully filmed, emotional and important historical film event that strongly resonates among viewers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Did the movie win an Oscar? – No. The movie is nominated for the Oscar 2025 in the category of the best short film, but the Oscars will be held on March 3, 2025. (Nomination is already a historic success – the first time that Croatian film has been shortlisted for Oscar.)
- What is the movie talking about? – The film follows a true story from 1993: describes how the Serbian paramilitary unit stopped a passenger train in Štrpci and dragged passengers (mainly Bosniaks) to kill them. The focus is on Tomislav “Tomo” Buzov (Croatian retired officer) who dares to confront armed aggressors and save the fate of a boy. It is a story about his courage and dilemma of neighbors in moments of violence.
- Who are the main actors in the film? – main roles Goran Bogdan (like Dragan) and Dragan Mićanović (like Tomo Buzov). The film also features Alexis Manenti (paramilitary commander) and Silvio Mumelaš (boy Milan).
- What is the duration of the film? – It is a short film that lasts about 13 minutes. Despite the short duration, the film was awarded for its intense and effective story.
- Who directed the film? The film was directed and written by Nebojša Slijepčević. He is a Croatian director who has already worked on projects with a historical theme, and for this film he achieved great international success through awards.
Conclusion
short film A man who could not remain silent He achieved a number of extraordinary successes and raised interest in Croatian cinematography at the world level. The story of courage and conscience in the war won over the audience and critics, and the film is still shown at festivals and is awaited by the world stage (Oscari 2025). For the latest information, we recommend following official sources: announcements of the Croatian Audiovisual Center, film portals and program announcements on HRT. This film is worth watching because of the poignant historical topic, the performance of actors and directing – you should definitely stay up to date with news about further awards and screenings.
Sources: We took data about film, plot, actors and awards from relevant sources, including the Croatian Audiovisual Center and reviews, as well as publications on Croatian and international film portals.
Cover photo: Ariela Ortiz-Barrantes, CC BY-SA 4.0, Via Wikimedia Commons