FEST2003

Interview with Lucija Sherberdzija  

 By Rada Djurica     

Balkan Film

Yugoslavian film has always offered extremely interesting cinematography. Every year the International Film Festival in Belgrade features films from former Yugoslavia. FEST 2003 closed with the exceptional Serbian film, "Bare Ground," whose cast included the best Serbian and best Croatian actors. That film was also invited to the film festival in London, which was the first time after a very long time, for a Serbian film.

In addition to excellent cinematic work coming from Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FEST 2003 included another award-winning Croatian film. "Fine Dead Girls" is a true piece of art, exploring the narrowmindness of the citizens of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, and the relationship between two women, involved sexually and emotionally. The film is directed by Dalibor Matanic, a young Croatian film director who won Grand Prix 2002 in the Film Festival in Pula.

Matanic said, "The most important thing about FEST is the role of The International Film Festival. No matter if the commercial film is generally most attractive to people, showing non-commercial art films, and not just from former Yugoslavia, is giving to FEST a much wider and more important meaning. The role, the approach of taking the art film more seriously is the process of showing the reality of the world and the situation around us. My film 'Fine Dead Girls' was made about the urban city of Zagreb. But the problem of narrowmindness is general everywhere, in former and present Yugoslavia, Sarajevo, Belgrade, anywhere else."

Every year, the festival hosts young film directors from former Yugoslavia. The film "Remake," produced by the France-Tourkey Corporation and directed by Dino Mustafic, is from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The most distinguished guest relating to domestic film was definitely Lucija Sherberdzija, an actress in the Bosnian film "Remake." Lucija is the daughter of Rade Serberdzija, the only former Yugoslavian refugee who made a big budget Hollywood film production during the last 10 years of civil war in Yugoslavia. His exceptional roles placed him on the screen with Brad Pitt, Val Kilmer, Michael Caine and Gina Gershow.

Definitely, this young lady, Lucia Sherberdzija, was one of the prettiest guests of the festival. She is an attractive blonde, and in addition to her good looks, she has the genetic and objective perspectives to make a big splash in Hollywood today.

Following is an exclusive interview with Lucija Sherberdzija, daughter of the first Slav former Yugoslavian Hollywood actor, Rade Sherberdzija.

What is it like to be the daughter of Rade Sherberdzija?

It's very nice to be the daughter of a great actor. He's a very nice person and a great father.


You had great opportunities to meet celebrities, didn't you?

Yes, of course, I had. I'm friends with Tom Cruise because my father has done two films together with Tom Cruise,"Mission Impossible" and "Eyes Wide Shut." Tom Cruise is a wonderful person and very charming, too, with the big blue eyes and sweet smile. Besides him, I've met his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman. She's astonishing and very beautiful. Our family is a great friend with Vanessa Redgrave, and her daughter Jolly Richardson. She is a big star in the UK. Then Uma Truman, that is a fascinating person. Also, Val Kilmer; my father was doing "The Saint" with him.

What actors would you like to work with on film or in the theatre?

You mean if I would have a dream come true? First, I would mention directors that I would like to work with. And that's Jim Jarmush, Woody Alen, Nikita Mihalkov, and of course Mike Lee, my favorite. Maybe if I would meet them and have lunch with them it might be enough. I would like to work with actresses that I have great admiration for. It was wonderful to work with Elisabeth Shoe because she is so normal. She's very professional and helpful. Val Kilmer has a star status and he acts that way. He was untouchable but very polite to me. I admire Meryl Streep, and I would like to work with her, or at least watch her shooting. I admire Jessica Lang. From younger actresses I admire Cate Blanchet, and I'm very sorry she didn't win the Oscar for "Elizabeth."

Your new projects?

I'm negotiating for an Italian film where I would play the main character. But this film is still in production and I wouldn't want to talk about it just yet. Therefore, I've started to learn intensive Italian. And for this summer I should start doing a Chech-Slovakian coproduction movie. It is a very feminine film about three friends and their love problems, a film that I'm looking forward to doing.


How do you get the parts in British and American films, since you are living in Croatia? Do you often go to casting in London?

I have an agent in London; his name's Douglas Smith, with Peter Fraiser and Douglas Company, and I live in Zagreb. He calls me when it's necessary. He is an agent for all the bigger Eastern European actors, doing casting in Europe, not in the USA, in Prague, Rome, London. He usually calls on test screenings if someone is interested. He is a big agent, and if you are in his crew you're automatically in a narrow circle for any movie casting. He has the tape with my screening, showing it to all the bigger clients.

By now, I have auditioned for very important, big films. And for some I've got rejected. With the rejection, I usually take it very well. If not, I would probably be a big star now. Recently I was on the audition for "XXX." And for "15 Minutes," a film with Robert De Niro. I was very close to some really wonderful parts, in the competition with three or four of us. Since I've been on so many auditions in my life, I've learned to accept it very calmly, because the motion picture business is like that. I'm looking at it with realism, and with an unstoppable spirit.

I've learned that getting a part or not is not about being less beautiful or less of an actress, if I don't get part. Because If I'm selected among the three actresses in competition with millions of them, then I really think that I'm looked upon seriously. And the screenplay sometimes requires a certain type of actor. I know that the movie business has no regard for private friendships. I know this because I was a director's assistant. When the director wants something and the producer wants something. then that's it, you can't do anything about it. Those three factors always come first.