Shadows (2007 film)

Shadows
Shadows
	File:Shadows poster.jpg
Directed by	Milcho Manchevski
Written by	Milcho Manchevski
Produced by	Milcho Manchevski; Amedeo Pagani; Corinna Mehner; Nermin Gladers; Martin Hussman; Dimitar Gočev; Gerrardo Herrero; Mariela Besuievsky
Cinematography	Fabio Cianchetti
Edited by	David Ray; Martin Levenstein
Music by	Ryan Shore; (additional music by Kiril Džajkovski)
Distributed by	Bavaria Film International
Release date	September 9, 2007;
Running time	120 minutes
Country	Macedonia
Language	Macedonian

File:Shadows.ogg

Shadows trailer

File:The Making of Shadows.ogg

The Making of Shadows

File:Still Shadows.jpg

File:Still Ratka.jpg

File:Still from Shadows.jpg

File:Still - Shadows.jpg

In Shadows (Macedonian: Сенки, Transliteration: Senki), the son of a reputable physician struggles to live up to other people's expectations of him, until one day he is confronted by people who appear to die time and again.

Written and directed by Academy-award nominated director Milcho Manchevski, this Macedonian-German-Italian-Spanish-Bulgarian co-production stars Borce Nacev, Vesna Stanojevska, Ratka Radmanovic, Salaetin Bilal and Petar Mircevski.

Shadows was appreciated by the critics:

“Shadows is a stunning and endlessly suspenseful erotic thriller. This mustsee artistry by director Milcho Manchevski leaves a magnetic imprint on the moviegoer”

(Omar P.L. Moore, The Popcorn Reel Film Review)

“‚Call it a ‘ghost story’, but know that it feels more like Bergman or Polanski, or even Shakespeare – Macbeth and Hamlet come to mind. *…+ To live through these moments in this setting allows for an uncanny intimacy – a faceoff with personal fear that leads, strangely enough, to a celebration of life.”

(Diane Sippl, Cinema Without Borders)

“SHADOWS’ style runs between hypnotic and frantic, which will surely set hearts racing. The film is unique in its ability to have a hand in multiple genres.”

(Joseph Woodard, Independent)

“A visual tale of dramatic substance, with historical depth and contemporary thrust, adroitly told with innovation and élan.”

(Diane Sippl, Cinema Without Borders)

Plot

Sometimes the dead speak louder than the living.

If we were to choose one man who’s got everything going for him, then Lazar Perkov would be an excellent choice. He’s young, good-looking, has a beautiful wife, lovely little boy, great house and a good job as a hospital physician. In fact, everyone calls him “Lucky.” Nothing’s missing – except maybe Lucky himself, who’s always trying to live up to the expectations of others. Like his bored wife and roguish colleagues. And, above all, his famous physician mother, a driven woman who rose from obscurity to renown with an iron will that crushed all resistance, whether from the living or the dead…

When Lucky is involved in a disastrous car crash and mysteriously saved from a sure death, his life begins to change. He meets strange people: an old man with a baby, an ancient lady speaking a forgotten dialect, a beautiful young woman with a sad secret. Their only message is: “Return what’s not yours. Have respect.” He gradually becomes aware that it is a message from the afterlife, from tormented souls who seem to die over and over again.

But why have they chosen him?

To answer this question, Lucky must finally grow up and become the man he wants to be.

Writer-director Milcho Manchevski has crafted a hypnotic journey into the heart of our archaic, elemental needs and emotions colored by a chilling sense of foreboding.

Cast

Actor	Role
Borče Nacev	Dr. Lazar Perkov
Salaetin Bilal	Gerasim
Vesna Stanojevska	Menka
Sabina Ajrula	Dr. Vera Perkova
Ratka Radmanovic	Kalina
Vladimir Jacev	Dr. Shishkin
Filareta Zdravkovic	Gordana
Dime Iliev	Ignjat Perkov

Production

The film was written and directed by Milcho Manchevski, and produced by Mariela Besuievsky, Nermin Gladers, Dimitar Gochev, Gerardo Herrero, and Martin Husmann, Milcho Manchevski, Robert Jazadziski, Corinna Meaner, Elena Melamed, Amedeo Pagani, and Thomas Woodrow.^[1] Fabio Cianchetti was the director of photography, David Munns was the production designer, Marty Levenstein and David Ray edited the film, and the music was composed by Ryan Shore and Kiril Džajkovski. Principal photography took place in Ohrid, Saramzalino and Skopje, Macedonia.

Awards

Macedonian Academy Award Submission, 2008: Best Foreign-Language Film
Golden Ladybug, 2008: Best Actress (Vesna Stanojevska in Shadows)
Golden Ladybug, 2008: Best Music Video (Jungle Shadow in Shadows)
Park City Film Music Festival, 2008: Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement, Ryan Shore, composer
Syracuse Film Festival, 2008: Best Actress, Vesna Stanojevska in Shadows

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ryan Shore.

Critical reception

The film screened at several international film festivals, premiering at Toronto International Film Festival. One of the film critics called it "Manchevski’s most ambitious film to date". Other critics, such as Patrick McGavin of Screen Daily, called it “ambitious and capably mounted […] (Manchevski) retains a very fine eye for composition, aided by the sensuous, beautiful work of Italian cinematographer Fabio Cianchetti. The movie's standout quality is the sexy, revealing work of the vibrant, highly alluring young actress Vesna Stanojevska, a professional musician making her film debut. She injects the film with an erotic intensity”.

Stephen Holden from The New York Times, the movie is well acted (especially by Ms. Stanojevska) and very sexy."

The A.V. Club talks about, "It's a very sensual film, reveling in the pleasures of voyeurism."

Release history

Country	Date
Canada	September 9, 2007
Macedonia	November 2, 2007
Taiwan	November 24, 2007

References

^ "Shadows cast & crew".

External links

[1] "Shadows cast & crew".

[1]