The film “Dražen,” which tells the story of legendary Croatian basketball player Dražen Petrović, directed by Danilo Šerbedžija, begins screening tonight at Banja Luka’s “Cineplex Palace” cinema.
The script was written by Ivan Turković-Krnjak, and the creators and producers are Ljubo Zdjelarević and Ivor Šiber. The lead roles feature Domagoj Nizić as Dražen Petrović, Tonko Stosić as young Dražen, Romina Tonković as Renata (Dražen’s girlfriend), Pavle Matuško as Aleksandar Petrović, Lovre Tanfara as young Aleksandar, Zrinka Cvitešić as Biserka Petrović, Dragan Mićanović as Jovan Petrović, Viktoria Hauer as Klara, Mile Kekin as Mirko Novosel, among others.
Produced by “Kinoteka” studio, with co-productions from Serbian studio “Living Pictures,” Slovenian studio “December,” and American studio “RTG,” the film is clearly aimed at a regional audience. The authors and producers Šiber and Zdjelarević began preparations in 2017, receiving permission from the Petrović family. From the start, they aimed to create a personal drama rather than a conventional sports biographical film.
“As producers and big fans of Dražen, we watched numerous documentaries about his greatest games and trophies, but this film is something entirely different. It’s a much more personal story, going beyond the basketball court. It’s not a traditional biography, but a story inspired by his life that captures the human side of the legend we all admire,” Zdjelarević explained.
The film follows Dražen’s life, from his childhood in Šibenik, his rise as an ultra-talented youth who conquered Yugoslavia, Europe, and the United States. Through his life’s most pivotal moments, the film explores Dražen’s relentless determination, deep family connections, emotional relationships, boundless passion for basketball—the sport that made him immortal—and his tragic death in a car accident.
The film premiered in Croatia on Dražen’s 60th birthday, October 22, and drew 23,071 viewers during its opening weekend, marking the most successful Croatian film debut in the past 10 years. However, critical reception has been mixed.
Several critics praised the atmosphere and performances by Tonko Stosić, Romina Tonković, Dragan Mićanović, and Mile Kekin, but criticized certain script and directorial choices, noting a focus on less significant phases of Dražen’s personal and professional life, with major basketball achievements taking a backseat and a somewhat idealized portrayal of the late icon. Audience reactions have also been mixed, with some praising the authentic depiction of his personal life and actors’ contributions, while others criticized the lack of attention to his early career with “Šibenka” and insufficient focus on his basketball achievements. Nevertheless, judging by the numbers, “Dražen” may become a box-office hit, which, given its theme and co-production partnerships, was likely one of its main objectives.
Locations
Filming began in Šibenik last year and took place in locations where Dražen lived. For the production, a basketball hoop was installed at its original place at the “Marshal Tito” primary school, where Dražen used to play. Besides Šibenik, scenes were also shot in Zagreb, Madrid, and the United States. The NBA provided licensing for the use of team jerseys and various basketball club logos to support the production.
Source: Glas Srpske
