The predecessors and contemporaries of Tomislav Gotovac explored different approaches to creation in European cinematography by challenging the norms, stereotypes and standards imposed by the Marshall Plan in the period which we now call the “Cultural Cold War.” On the other hand, the generations of today turn to the critique of neoliberalism, exposing the process of homogenisation brought on by globalisation.

In the years following the Second World War, the cinematographic practice used a method of structuralist analysis characterised by technical rigour and the specificity of using reception time opposite to conventional organisation of social time. However, such approach evolved with the ascent of digitalisation. The digital image is a media course that is simultaneously fragmented and integral, which accelerates and stratifies into different formats such as screening, installation, programmation, streaming, etc. Art critique seeks to counteract this frenetic rhythm with conceptual (e.g., anti-stories and the use of archive) and technical means (recording, sampling, etc.).

This film programme proposes a diagram (on the left) initially put together by George Maciunas in 1969, and elaborated by Slobodan Šijan in 1976, as the starting point for the expansion of this principle and accentuating the predecessors of contemporaries of Tomislav Gotovac’s cinematographic oeuvre, but also as the possibility of insight – albeit evidently not entirely comprehensive one – into the extent of his conscious or unconscious influence on followers from new generations of filmmakers or on video artists at the international level.

This programme is an attempt at giving a temporary new life to Kinoklub Zagreb. It features 4 cycles of short films which alternate every 3 weeks, while longer films will be screened at the Gorgona Hall.

SPECIAL FILM PROGRAM 'PRECESSORS AND FOLLOWERS'
MSU, 1st floor of occasional exhibitions / 8th - 30th March 2024

Group 2

Ivan Faktor
Le Samourai
2011
experimental, digibeta, beta SP, colour
22’
Croatian Film Association

Marina Gioti
b-alles
2005
single-channel video, digital video, colour, sound
02’21’’
courtesy of the author

Jeff Wall Production
Hermès last sentences
2022
video, sound, colour
06'13''
courtesy of the author

Jeff Wall Production
Journey to „Post-fascist“ Italy
2022
visual essay by Pierre Bal-Blanc
video, sound, colour
05'06''
courtesy of the author

Ivan Martinac
Fokus
1967
documentary, experimental
07’14’’
Croatian Film Association

Jean-Charles Massera
C’était pas après la veranda?
2016
colour, sound
05’27’’
courtesy of the author

Dóra Maurer
Idömérés
1973-1980
b/w, no sound, 16mm
10’09’’
Kontakt Collection, Vienna

Mihovil Pansini
Brodovi ne pristaju
1955
b/w, sound
14'31''
Croatian Film Association

Boris Poljak
Oni samo odlaze i dolaze
2017
documentary
20'
Croatian Film Association

Karol Radziszewski
Sebastian
2010
DVD
04’30’’
courtesy of the author

Shikeith
Altar (Held After)
2020
single-channel video, sound 
02’33’’
courtesy of the author and the Yossi Milo art gallery, New York