Slovenka (2009) Reviews

• get inside another life in another place

  chuck-5262010-10-11

  This film comes off as a "slice of life" ...of an unusual life. Its pace is neither hurried nor slow. It doesn't rely on either symbolism (neither obvious nor obscure) or literary references. Except for a few places where bits of music are used to great effect to convey meaning, this film is a dialog-driven story that doesn't require any sense of style. Although a few events may be a little out of strict order, this film doesn't rely on cinematic techniques like flashbacks. Everything we know of the characters' motivations comes from what they say and do - there's no memory nor daydreams nor interior monologue nor voice over. There are no references to either previous or current "politics" (other than the inconvenient traffic snarls caused by the presence of EU officials). This film is not preachy, nor even moralistic; if anything it's somewhat ambiguous or understated. It's too bad this film will probably be classified as "foreign" or "art house", as it's much more mainstream than that would suggest. While this film is not really about "sexiness", there are enough scenes with naked flesh to place it firmly in the current worldwide context. Likewise although this film is not really a "thriller", there's enough suspense (and even some danger) to make it clear it should be taken seriously. The filming and acting are quite good. One of the best examples of good supporting acting is portraying a band that's adequate but by no means great; the required level of mediocrity is played quite well. The dialog is clear and easy to hear throughout. Subtitles are provided whenever necessary and are presented in large yellow letters that are consistently easy to read. I have one quibble though: several places an important message arrives on a cellphone as a text message in a language other than English, and is _not_ subtitled. I always eventually managed to figure out what was going on anyway ...but I would have very warmly welcomed the subtitling of the text messages as well as the dialog. Much of what we see are all the practical problems and little details of a call girl life: multiple cell phones, code names, harassment by pimps, dying clients, mentally unstable clients, unattractive (downright ugly?) clients, continual fear of exposure, suspicion from hotel staff, inability to ask police to intervene normally, unwelcome carryover of massive lying and acting into other areas of life, difficulty balancing two separate lives (sleep, deadlines, finances, etc.), and so on. We also see more typical lives in both a smaller and a large Slovenian city. In the smaller city we're introduced to the overpowering presence and distortion caused by foreign (especially "American") culture. In the large city we see the architecture one would see every day, the disruption of normal life caused by the presence of EU officials, and the ubiquitous presence of the English language (both its very frequent use and all the attempts to learn it better - something like fully half the dialog doesn't even have to be subtitled for English speaking viewers). The most important theme is the "alienation" of big city life, and the relatively reduced (but still substantial) alienation in a smaller city. The second important theme is the "meaninglessness" of life everywhere -- the film isn't saturated by the broodiness one tends to associate with nihilism, but adding together what all the various characters say (including things they _don't_ tell each other) it's hard to draw any other conclusion. Many other potential themes are given glancing attention: excessive materialism, fleetingness of relationships, essential isolation of each individual, growing to adulthood as a "launch" of a new lifestyle, inheritance of mental traits, inadvertently becoming what we despise, bleeding together of life spheres intended to stay "separate", and so on. The frequent references to the "Slovenian Girl" -and even the effects of the death of a client- provide convenient handles for describing this film, but aren't really what it's about.

• Slovenka

  johno-212010-02-05

  I saw this last month at the 2010 Palm Springs International Film Festival and writer/director Damjan Kozole was at my screening for an audience Q&A following the film. Aleksandra (Nina Ivanisin) who is called Sasha is a pretty 23 year old college student from the town of Krsko who is studying in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. To live in nice uptown apartment is above her economic means so to do so she becomes a call girl and advertises her services under the name 'Slovenian Girl'. It's Slovenia's turn to preside over the European Union so Sasha feels she could make a lot of money from European diplomats and businessmen who are in the capital during Slovenia's E.U. presidency. One of her clients is an overweight older German diplomat who dies from a heart attack while in her company. She calls the hotel's front desk to report it and splits before they arrive. She becomes a national tabloid sensation as television and newspapers try to find the mysterious 'Slovenian Girl.' Two sinister pimps, Mile (Dejan Spasic) and Peter (Aljoša Kovacic) have their own plans for her. Her old boyfriend Grega (Uroš Fürst) wants to renew their romance. Her father Edo (Peter Museuski) is getting his old band back together with his best pal Zoravko (Primoz Pirnat) back home in Krsko. This is a moody and dark film with a great cast and story and a remarkable performance by Ivanisin who is in virtually every scene considering it's her first film role. great production design by Maja Moravec, cinematography by Ales Belak and editing by film vets Jurij Moskon and Adrija Zafranovic. nice soundtrack from the electronic music group silence. I would expect this to get distribution in American art house theaters. I would recommend it and give it an 8.0 out of 10.

• Interesting, though not very emotionally involving

  Andy-2962011-03-26

  A 23 year old Slovenian girl, originally from a small town there but now studying at the university in the capital of Ljubljana, supplements her life as a student with stints as a prostitute (to show how distasteful her job is, the filmmakers have all her clients to be fat and/or old). One of them is a famous politician, and when he dies of a heart attack when he was in a hotel room with her, she flees not before telling the police. She is soon searched by the authorities and by the news media as the mysterious Slovenian Girl. She is also on the run from two sleazy, violent pimps, who want her to work for them instead of independently. A former boyfriend is stalking her also, and her mother back in her hometown doesn't look too happy when she shows up for a visit. Only her rock musician father and a female friend (who are obviously ignorant of her side job) are there supporting her. And all of the time she's having money problems, including coming with money to pay for a loan she incurred in to buy an apartment. To me the movie works best as a showcase of the general aimlessness of many young people today, especially in the developed world. Without any spiritual or political belief, many young people today seem to fall into nihilism. The main actress is pretty, but it seems to me to be way too surly to be a prostitute. Shouldn't she at least feign she is a sweet girl in front of her clients (this is not a criticism of her acting, she clearly has been told to play her that way by the filmmakers). Alas, this surliness of her makes the audience not care too much of what happens to her. Still, this is an interesting, well made film, though not very emotionally involving.

• Gritty

  billcr122012-05-29

  Slovenka is the name used in ads by Aleksandra to hook up with men for money. She is a twenty three year old college student studying English, and like many girls around the world, finds it a way to pay her tuition. Her parents are divorced, she has a good relationship with her father, but hates her mother. She lies, cheats and steals, with no real moral compass. Nina Ivanisin is Aleksandra, and she drifts seamlessly through the film with a natural grace and charm. The story is depressing as she gets tangled up with local, dangerous gangsters who, at one point, dangle her out of the window of a high rise. Slovenka is a cold and dark view of humanity; this ain't Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts and her goofy smile. Ivansin is a real actress showing a full range of emotions. There is no happily ever after.

• Good, Emotional,moody ....

  SivakumarBalachandran2010-10-05

  A call girl is a slow moody emotional disturbing kind of films.First thing is that the direction of the movie is so good. the story flows naturally the screen play has no cinematic experience in it. The whole essence of the movie is contained with a story of a girl who sells herself to live normally.....the lead role by the girl was so real and natural which makes you feel for her.The film has got so much day to day things of an authentic Slovenian life in it which gets you into it. The girl is so perfect for the role her mannerisms makes the viewer feel for her,like she usually lights up a cigar scratching it with her tongue and lips which has been maintained in the entire movie.Overall it is a story so natural without cinematic twist and turn endings.Natural star cast.The movie is Quite normal and moving.I would give 8 on 10.