19/12/2023 - The Slovak director’s feature debut, a bittersweet young-adult romance, captures the vibrant yet tenacious spirit of modern youth

Emerging Slovakian director Martina Buchelová is moving into the post-production phase with her first fiction feature, Lover Not a Fighter. Buchelová, who also penned the script, hails from the newest wave of Slovak filmmakers, and her early student movies have been showcased at international film festivals of the likes of Toronto and Karlovy Vary.

Previously focusing on youth-orientated documentaries, Buchelová continues to explore a generational theme here. She delves into the contemporary milieu through the perspective of young adults, blending romance, melodrama and tragedy in a tragicomic coming-of-age narrative. Lover Not a Fighter centres on characters Andrej (Adam Kubala) and Miša (Michaela Kostková). The official synopsis reads: “Andrej has a secret plan – to see no one, meet no one, only talk to his grandma and not climb tall trees while drunk. Then, he unexpectedly encounters Miša, at whom he previously tried to smile 17 times while drunk at parties. He never remembered the outcome, as he was always too drunk – but not today. Today he is sober. Andrej and Miša start to talk and, over a glass of Fanta, take an interest in each other. The fight for their young and tender love begins.”

Slovak producer Michaela Kaliská, of NINJA film, reveals the ambition behind the movie: “With a fresh and innovative cinematic language, we aim to tell a contemporary story of the love between two young people who must deal not only with themselves, but also with the complicated, chaotic reality of the world. The hope for a happy ending may seem slim at times, but their love for each other, for their loved ones, for the world and for themselves, compels them not to give up.” Buchelová mentions Wong Kar Wai's Chungking Express as a reference for its atmospheric qualities and the characters' poignant playfulness, and Fien Troch's Home [+see also:
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“We consider Martina Buchelová to be one of the most prominent voices of the emerging generation. Her films are distinctive in capturing the absurdity of everyday reality with playfulness, ease and, most importantly, kindness,” the producers told Cineuropa. The shoot concluded in October, and post-production work is scheduled to continue until the summer of 2024. Post-production studio PFX has boarded the project to contribute to the visual effects.

The producers disclosed that the film requires meticulous editing and visual post-production, incorporating various formats, including found footage. Adam Mach, who previously worked on Michal Blaško's acclaimed feature debut, Victim [+see also:
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The producers are actively seeking potential partners or co-producers interested in joining the project. The aim is to secure creative or financial assistance so as to complete the production process. Additionally, negotiations are under way with a sales agent and local distributors in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The producers are also open to further discussions with sales agents and opportunities for pre-sales on television and VoD platforms.

Lover Not a Fighter is being produced by Michaela Kaliská and Erika Paulinská, of NINJA Film (Slovakia), and co-produced by Julie Marková Žáčková, of Unit+Sofa Films (Czech Republic), and Radio and Television Slovakia. The Slovak Audiovisual Fund and the Czech Film Fund have supported the film. The release is preliminarily scheduled for autumn 2024. Incidentally, Lover Not a Fighter is the first project to have won the Cineuropa Work in Progress Award at Febiofest Bratislava Industry Days (see the report).