25/10/2023 - The sophomore feature by the director of Consequences will be a drama centring on the cycle of violence within the family

Darko Štante, the filmmaker behind Consequences [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Darko Štante
interview: Timon Sturbej
film profile] (2018), a movie that premiered at Toronto and enjoyed a long and fruitful festival run afterwards, has begun the principal-photography phase for his next feature, The Lost Son. The shoot, taking place on location around Ljubljana and in Trieste, Italy, should last for 30 days, according to the schedule.

The Lost Son tells a story about police investigator Andrej, who encounters his long-lost brother Kristian during an intervention in a case of domestic abuse, where the latter is the perpetrator. Andrej left the family home, dominated by their abusive father, 12 years prior and severed all contact with his family. Now, he makes an effort to help Kristian, risking his professional career in process.

The script, written by the filmmaker himself, was developed at the ScriptTeast and EAVE workshops. Regarding his directorial vision, Štante said: “I am wondering if the cycle of violence, running from one generation into the next, making the victim become the perpetrator, can be broken. Despite the heavy topic, I am trying to make a film that can communicate with a wide audience, spreading the discussion further.”

In the lead role of Andrej, the audience will be able to see Jure Henigman, recently seen in a number of Slovenian films, such as Wake Me [+see also:
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interview: Marko Šantić
film profile], Observing [+see also:
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interview: Janez Burger
film profile] and Role Model [+see also:
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film profile]. Kristian will be played by Nejc Cijan Garlatti, an actor mostly active on television, while Igor Samobor, of Class Enemy [+see also:
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interview: Rok Biček
interview: Rok Bicek
interview: Rok Bicek
film profile] fame, plays their father. The rest of the cast includes Laura Vouk, Tamara Avguštin, Goran Bogdan, Svit Šturbej, Nika Rozman, Timon Šturbej, Liam Benjamin Štante and Matej Zemljič. The crew behind the camera consists of seasoned cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger, editor Sara Gjergek, production designer Miha Knific, costume designer Nikolina Kostanjšek and Matea Katunar, who handles the make-up.

The producers of the film are Miha Černec and Nina Robnik for Slovenian outfit Staragara. The co-production companies are Propeler Film from Croatia (represented by Boris T Matić and Lana Matić), Kaval Film (Robert Jazadzizki) from North Macedonia and Graal Film (Konstantina Staurianou) from Greece. The Lost Son has received support from the Slovenian Film Centre, RTV Slovenia, Studio Viba Film, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the North Macedonia Film Agency, the Creative Europe – MEDIA programme and the Re-Act initiative.