 |
Before the Rain, a chronology of success
May 1993
The director of commercials and videos Milcho Manchevski, after
extended stay in USA, is in Skopje again. The purpose of his
visit are the meetings with "Vardar Film" for the realization
of his first movie, for which he wrote the script himself.
The movie should be a co production between "Vardar Film" and
two foreign studios. According to the informed in these meeting,
it is expected this project to be a huge success.
June 1993
The Ministry of Culture of Republic of Macedonia decides
to finance Milcho Manchevski's movie, under the working title "Before
the Rain." It is expected that "Vardar Film" will sign a
contract with foreign studios from Great Britain and France.
Two thirds of the movie will be taped in Macedonia, and
the rest in London. The production is expected to start in
August.
August 1993
 The financial construction of the project is finished. The
producers of this movie are British screen, Poly gram and
Vardar Film. The budget of the movie is 1,200,000 british
pounds. The director of the film is Stevan Acevski, the director
of the photography is Darius Conji, and Moni Damevski is
in charge of casting. Forty five actors from Macedonia will
participate in "Before the Rain." Rade Sherbedzhija and Gregoire
Colin (France) are in the main roles. The actress who will
play the 16 year old Albanian girl Zamira is still not known.
The taping will start on 20th of September. After six weeks
in Macedonia, the taping will continue in London.
September 1993
Prilep, 20th September. Press conference with the team from
Before The Rain, the Minister of Culture of Macedonia, Djuner
Ismail, and the producers Keith Villers, Gorjan Tozija, Chedomir
Kolar and Stevan Acevski. Milcho Manchevski states that this
will be a big movie after which he will retire. The village
of Shtavica, Mariovo: The first take of the movie. The foreigners
love the region that their hosts call "halfway from nowhere."
November 1993
"The Chinese have one harsh curse - Let all your wishes
come true", states Milcho Manchevski for the Macedonian weekly
paper Puls. The young man that worked everything in New York,
on 6th of November in Ohrid, at the church of St. Jovan Kaneo
finishes with the taping of Before the Rain in Macedonia.
That day in Ohrid, a lot of sun and wind. And lot of rain,
natural and artificial. The role of Zamira is given to the
anonymous high school student Labina Mitevska. Before the
Rain is moving to London, where the team will have three
weeks for preparation and three weeks for shooting. Those
who saw the taped material say that it is extraordinary visual
creation. At the end of November the director of the movie
is changed.
March 1994
Two thirds of Before the Rain are edited. The sound copy
is expected in May, and the distribution of the movie will
begin at the end of the fall. The director of the movie,
Milcho Manchevski for Screen International states that he
created very simple characters with strong feelings.
April 1994
The editing of the music for Before the Rain, of the Macedonian
bend Anastasia, is finished. In the interview for the Macedonian
newspaper Vecher, Manchevski states :" Byzantino-turkish
games that are more Macedonian than pindjur (macedonian salad
made from baked peppers) were used to stop this project,
because there is a danger of crushing the provincial standards
of the Macedonian cinematography."
September 1994
The first closed projection for the critics and journalists,
is held in Venice, on September 4th. Ovations from the spectators.
Next day, in Sala Grande, the official premiere on the Venetian
film festival. The public is crying.
The Macedonian public is in state of expectation. Will the
lion go to the "lion"? On September 12, Milcho Manchevski
wins the Golden Lion. For the first time after 25 years,
first time director wins this prestigious award. Before the
rain wins nine other awards. Rade Sherbedzija wins the Best
Actor award from the Italian journalists. That night, right
after the winning of the award, Milcho Manchevski states
for Vecher: " I am very pleased that all that love that entered
the movie, touches the people who watched it, and that it
helps them to take position in their lives. The movie would
have been good without all these awards. I would like to
thank most to all the danchos, borkos, stoles, cvetans, because
if they didn't chase me out of Macedonia in the worst possible
way before ten years, I wouldn't have achieved all this.
Thank you."
October 1994
The first commercial premiere of Before the Rain is on October
5th, in Bitola, on the "Brothers Manaki" Film Festival. The
premiere in Skopje is the next day. The movie is also shown
at the Vienna Film Festival "Vienalle". "Vienna Courier" writes:"Before
the Rain" means the return of the power of the european film." Rome
will see the movie on the 27th. Milcho states: "Maybe I needed
pain and suffering to wake stubbornness in me, that will
provoke a good movie. Maybe the film is a reflection of the
feelings of one man."
November 1994
Before the Rain sweeps over Europe. The Best Debue at the
Stockholm Film Festival. The soundtrack of the movie by Anastasia
hits the stores.
February 1995
Milcho Manchevski and Before the Rain nominated for an Oscar
in the Foreign movie category. After the 16 awards from across
the Globe, Oscar is next.
March 1995
The American Press writes highly about Before the Rain.
Milcho Manchevski is in the center of the attention. In Macedonia,
the tension is rising. Before the Rain, according to Milcho
is one simple story with the simple message that people should
love each other.
Although the critics favored Before the Rain, the Russian
Movie wins the Oscar. |
|
Print
Email
Discuss