Yugoslavian cinema took the spotlight this weekend at the iconic Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. Headlining the event was the screening of “Slike iz života udarnika (Life of a Shock Force Worker),” a 1972 masterpiece directed by Bahrudin Bato Čengić.
The film, part of the esteemed “To Save and Project” series, a festival revered for its dedication to film preservation, mesmerized audiences with its poignant narrative and daring cinematography.
“Life of a Shock Force Worker” holds a storied past, having once faced the chilling grip of censorship, leading to a decade-long ban on its esteemed director Čengić and acclaimed cinematographer Karpo Godina. The film’s narrative, revolving around the celebrated proletarian shock worker Alija Sirotanović, transcends mere propaganda, delving into the stark realities behind the façade of socialist heroism.
Sirotanović, initially celebrated as a propaganda hero on television and featured in multiple stilted awards ceremonies, fades into obscurity to reveal the stark contrast between “manufactured glory and the harsh reality of building a new socialist utopia.”
Drawing inspiration from Godina’s unconventional short documentaries, Čengić brings attention to the hard work of real-life coal miners. The scnes were s filmed about 600 meters underground in risky, methane-filled coal mines, using only battery-powered miners’ lamps. This technique gives the film a distinctive and gritty appearance, described as a “uniquely sooty palette.”
This 20th-anniversary edition of “To Save and Project” includes over 80 newly preserved features and shorts from eighteen countries. Many of these films will have their world or North American premieres, presented in their original versions not seen since their initial theatrical releases.
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