23.LFF
Opatija
26.-30.08.2025.

Film

Why is mom always crying?

LFF18, In competition

LFF LAUREAT

Film je na 18. LFF-u osvojio:

  • nagradu za najbolju režiju
  • nagradu za najbolju montažu

ABOUT THE MOVIE

"It was enough for me to think day and night about you." Ena discovers her parent’s love letters. They sent each other letters while they were separated in the war, in the most hopeless place in the world - Bosnia and Herzegovina. She goes on a trip to the City from her childhood “Pustograd” and she recalls the almost impossible love of her parents. When the war in Mostar begin, Ena's parents, a married couple of different nationalities, moved away from the war from Mostar to Pustograd where Ena's father is taken into captivity. Ena and her mother are left alone in the world. They live in anxiety and fear, not knowing if their other half is dead or alive. Six months after Ena's father is taken, Ena and her mother receive the first letter. The letter comes in unaddressed, unfamiliar way. That is the start of their exchange of letters; months go by when they cannot hear from each other, while Ena and her mother tremble for his life.

Karmen Obrdalj

Karmen Obrdalj (1999, Split, Croatia). She made six short feature films, one short documentary and one music video. Her films have been screened at festivals such as Motovun Film Festival, Dukafest, Mostar Film Festival, West Herzegovina Festival, etc. At the 2019 Mostar Film Festival, Karmen was awarded the “Best Student Film Award” for her documentary Why is mom always crying?. This year festival Visions du Reel selected the same documentary for their Media Library selection. She is the author of all her films as a director and screenwriter.She is a full-time student of film and TV directing at the Academy of Arts, University of Banja Luka. She works as an assistant director on the series Hotel Balkan in Bosonog production.In her films, she deals with the problems of growing up, love, dysfunctional relationships and sexuality.

Title: Why is mom always crying?
Year of production: 2019
Duration: 15
Director: Karmen Obrdalj
Screenplay: Karmen Obrdalj
Photography: Jana Vuković
Sound design: Aleksandar Jurić
Production: Karmen Obrdalj
Production company: Akademija umjetnosti univerziteta u Banjoj Luci