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When Father Was Away on Business

Play trailer Poster for When Father Was Away on Business R 1985 2h 25m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In a post-World War II Yugoslavia still under Stalinist rule in the 1950s, 6-year-old Malik (Moreno D'E Bartolli) is oblivious as to why his father, Mehmed (Miki Manojlovic), has suddenly disappeared. The actual reason for Mehmed's absence is that he has been sent to a labor camp as punishment for acts of sexual indiscretion involving young girls. Malik's mother, Senija (Mirjana Karanovic), however, has no answers for him, and the family is left to cope in the father's absence.

Critics Reviews

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Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel 03/26/2020
3.5/5
It's not a particularly dynamic film, but I liked Kusturica's compact camera moves and bleary sense of whimsy. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/25/2011
B+
This charming saga, winner of the top Cannes Film Fest award, tells the story of one family in Yugoslavia circa the eraly 1950s, when politics invased every aspect of life. Go to Full Review Anton Bitel Film4 06/15/2007
A beautifully observed, impeccably performed piece of Chekhovian drama in which a boy, his family and society all sleepwalk through the nightmare of Yugoslavia's Titoist reformation. Go to Full Review Jules Brenner Cinema Signals 07/02/2005
3/5
Karanovic turns Kusturica's tendency to make an epic out of everything he touches into something that's worth the agonies of his extended sentimentality. Go to Full Review Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice 08/22/2004
4/5
Offers a revealing glimpse of life in Yugoslavia during the 1950s, a time of political transition. Go to Full Review Daniel M. Kimmel Worcester Telegram & Gazette 04/16/2004
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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Leaburn O @RT35452347 Dec 15 This is quite dark for Kursturica but it’s well made and poignant enough. About a serial cheat and the Soviet/Tito era. Haunting and less droll than his usual work but it’s an important piece. Watched on DVD. See more Stephen C @bob25009 07/04/2025 Success in 2 hours and 25 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Hungarian and English audio versions with English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more S R @ScottR 05/24/2023 Although its not the most compelling film, it still has memorable moments that go a bit extreme at times. Regardless, a good capture of the Yugoslavian issues with political communism and how lives can be ruined out of pettiness. I enjoyed the fervor for the National Soccer team and the old lady singing in Hungarian at the wedding. I saw it for its accolades and Kusturica, but it wasn't what I thought it would be. It was on Youtube. See more 08/07/2019 One of my favorite movies of all time - top 3! See more 03/06/2015 Kusturika's highly-acclaimed comedy-drama is actually rather contrived and overlong. See more 10/31/2014 The Cannes winner in 1985, this film tackles the toll a war takes on one family that has its own dysfunctions. A working knowledge of 20th century Yugolav history would help with comprehension, but it's still an effective story. See more Read all reviews
When Father Was Away on Business

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Cast & Crew

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Emir Kusturica

Director

Moreno D'E Bartolli

Malik

Miki Manojlovic

Mehmed Mesa Zolj

Mirjana Karanovic

Senija Sena Zolj

Mustafa Nadarevic

Zijah Zijo Zulfikarpasic

Mira Furlan

Ankica Vidmar

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When Father Was Away on Business

When Father Was Away on Business (1985) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In a post-World War II Yugoslavia still under Stalinist rule in the 1950s, 6-year-old Malik (Moreno D'E Bartolli) is oblivious as to why his father, Mehmed (Miki Manojlovic), has suddenly disappeared. The actual reason for Mehmed's absence is that he has been sent to a labor camp as punishment for acts of sexual indiscretion involving young girls. Malik's mother, Senija (Mirjana Karanovic), however, has no answers for him, and the family is left to cope in the father's absence.
Director
Emir Kusturica
Producer
Mirza Pašić
Screenwriter
Emir Kusturica, Abdulah Sidran
Distributor
Cannon Film Distributors
Production Co
Centar FRZ, Forum Sarajevo
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Hungarian
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 11, 1985, Original
Release Date (DVD)
May 24, 2005
Runtime
2h 25m
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