Snajka: Diary of Expectations is a participative-observational documentary about the Croatian-Roma couple Tea and Mirsad, their daughter Frida and an attempt of a life together, stretched between family pressure and compromises they are both willing to make. Their respective endowments were economically and culturally practically incompatible, so they had to face an unrewarding challenge of balancing their family baggage in the form of previous generations’ legacy on the road between Croatia and Kosovo. Joined in their wish to find a solution for their families’ unrealistic expectations, Tea and Mirsad will embark on a complex game of adaptation, which will finally prove to be a burden in their own intimacy. This extremely personal and intimate film unmasks a series of family rituals, traditional stereotypes, even cultural racism, amidst which two people in love are trying to find the right measure between fulfilling the image their parents have and the need to stay true to themselves and live by their own values. Tea and Mirsad obstinately try to be obedient children to their parents and, at the same time, free-spirited parents to their daughter Frida, which seems an impossible task, all the love notwithstanding.
Director and screenwriter: Tea Vidović Dalipi
Editor: Jelena Maksimović
Cinematographers: Tea Vidović Dalipi, Dinka Radonić
Sound designer: Luka Gamulin
Re-recording mixer: Tihomir Vrbanec
Sound recordists: Hrvoje Radnić, Eroll Bilibani
Color grading: Marco Duretti
Graphics: Zlatko Zlatković
Producer: Oliver Sertić (Restart)
Co-producers: Stefano Tealdi (Stefilm), Bujar Kabashi (Möbius)
Executive producers: Vedran Senjanović, Oliver Sertić
Associate producers: Vanja Jambrović, Eroll Bilibani, Elena Fillipini, Edoardo Fracchia
Executive producer (development): Tibor Keser
Production assistants: Zrinka Košar, Suzana Erbežnik, Margherita Cavalli
Production: Restart (HR)
Co-production: Stefilm (IT), Al Jazeera Balkans, Möbius (XK)
In association with: Tabahana Film (XK)
Original languages: Croatian, Albanian, English, Romany
working titles: BRIDE IN SEARCH OF HAPPINESS / SNAJKA
Awards
VERZIO FILM FESTIVAL 2023, Budapest, HU – Doc Future Award / best debut film
FREE ZONE FILM FESTIVAL 2023, Belgrade, Novi Sad, RS – special mention (‘First Two Steps’)
DOKUFEST 2023, Prizren, XK – audience award