Senki (2007)

Director:

Milcho Manchevski

Writer:

Milcho Manchevski (writer)

Release Date:

4 September 2008 (Hungary)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Sometimes the dead speak louder than the living

Plot:

The son of a reputable physician struggles to live up to other people's expectations of him. |

Plot Keywords:

Family Relationships | Feet | Unfaithfulness | Doctor | Blood

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Borce Nacev	...	Dr Lazar Perkov
Vesna Stanojevska	...	Menka
Sabina Ajrula	...	Dr. Vera Perkova (as Sabina Ajrula-Tozija)
Salaetin Bilal	...	Gerasim
Ratka Radmanovic	...	Kalina
Filareta Atanasova	...	Gordana
Dime Ilijev	...	Ignjat Perkov
Petar Mircevski	...	Blagojce
Vladimir Jacev	...	Siskin
Goce Vlahov	...	Professor Kokale
Ana Kostovska	...	Radmila
Zaklina Stefkovska	...	Paca
Izabela Novotni	...	Izabela
Ilko Stefanovski	...	Dr Karpuzovski
Vanja Radmilovic	...	Ivana

Also Known As:

Shadows (International: English title) (USA) (new title)
Bones (Germany) (TV title)
Entre los muertos (Mexico) [es]
Gölgeler (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Ombres (France) [fr]
Sjene (Croatia) [hr]
Skies (Greece) (DVD title) [el]

Runtime:

Canada:120 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:130 min

Country:

Republic of Macedonia | Germany | Italy | Bulgaria | Spain

Language:

Macedonian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A | Singapore:R21 | Mexico:B15

Filming Locations:

Ohrid, Macedonia

Company:

Blue Eyes Fiction

Trivia:

Right after the hospital scene ends, when the two kids bring the overdosed girl, the director Milcho Manchevski can be seen on the computer screen before it displays Lazar's wife and son.

Suspense easily created in this interesting story

Milcho Manchevski became famous after his great movie "Before the Rain". Sadly, here in Croatia he's pretty unknown although one of the best Croatian actors, Rade Serbedzija was really great in Manchevski's before mentioned movie. But now we finally have his new movie in theaters and I must say that I was wondering what this would look like.

"Senki" follows a story of young doctor Lazar Perkov. Lazar has everything, beautiful wife and child, he's a doctor and he even has a nickname 'Lucky'. Soon Lazar's life changes after he survives a heavy car accident; but nothing seems to be the same as it was. His wife and child don't live with him any more and soon he starts having appearances of strange people who are asking from him do to something. Actually to return something what's not his.

We (viewers) are drawn into the story with ease, cause it is very interesting to wait till the end to found out what is happening with our main character. This movie was made in Macedonia (in Skopje and on some beautiful locations at Ohrid lake) but it could easily pass as American one (Manchevski lives in New York and some people who worked on this one are foreigners). Really, this movie doesn't lack a thing. The most important part is of course directing one, and Manchevski is leading us through this movie with 'safe' hands and you can really see why he is such established director. To return on Macedonia; it seems like Manchevski wanted to show both beautiful and ugly sides of his land. Beautiful scenes at Ohrid lake have their contrast in brutal living habits of some people in Skopje (like the place where Blagojce lives).

In central of attention is our main character Lazar (name has Biblical purpose here, but that is also common Macedonian name) who has these appearances of some people after his accident. Who are they, what do they want from him, how is this all going to end? All those questions makes viewers on the edge of their seats waiting for the end. There is also Lazar's connection with his family (specially with his mother) and his love interest in Menka. What I also liked is great creation of suspense and horror (the old lady in the water and all the appearances of these 'people'). Here Manchevski succeeds to make scary scenes, while we can all see how most of the American so called horror movies are not only dull but what's most important without any fear; and Manchevski's attention was to make psychological thriller like "The Sixth Sense" (which is similar in some points with this movie).

So if you want to see one very interesting story watch this very good third movie from Milcho Manchevski. I hope you won't regret it.