Idiot a Film Written, Directed and Produced by Dušan Davidov won Best Animation Films award at Cinefern Film Award and Competition's December 2019.
The Film is about The “Smiling Man”, our hero is, in fact, an “Idiot”. The topic of altruism, when a hero helps also at the cost of not being understood, and his help may be considered annoying, is as eternal as mankind itself.
Our story does not take place in aristocratic chambers but rather in an office. The “Smiling Man” is a small officer in a small town who lives 150 years later than the prince (the prince Myshkin). While F. Dostoyevsky depicted altruism in human relationships, our hero lives to work. For him, work is everything, it is something like breathing. Work is his second nature, he doesn’t realise the fact that he is abused by his colleagues, he helps because everybody wants him to help; because he is asked for help.
While the topic of Dostoyevsky’s “The Idiot” was altruism, our key topic is the misuse of altruism and its perception as a weakness.
The “Smiling Man” slaves for all of them, not only at work, but also at home; without any claim to be paid, without any appreciation from his colleagues or family. He lives the life he considers correct.
When a stupid boss unjustly fires him, he is not angry with him. Not even when the boss runs down to the street to give him the food box he has left behind in the office. The “Smiling Man” perceives it as the boss´s favour. He sees a human being in his boss. It would never occur to him, not even in his dreams, that he brought it to him just to prevent him from entering the office any more. Even if it came into his mind, he would never believe it, because he’s a nice guy; he is an “Idiot”.
Interview With Dušan Davidov
Q: What is the basic Idea Behind the film?
Dušan Davidov: An honest and honest man must act like an Idiot in the inhuman official world.
Q: How do you handle the Pre-Production, and Post Production?
Dušan Davidov: I wrote the story 40 years ago. Then I looked for him for 40 years. Unnecessarily. Finally, I wrote it again.
Q: What do you do to stay calm during Production of the film?
Dušan Davidov: That it's nothing. That it's just a movie. That there are more important things than success. But I don't believe it.
Q: What sort of stories excites you?
Dušan Davidov: With an idea, with knowledge and instruction.
Q: Do you think all the good stories have already been made into a movie?
Dušan Davidov: Absolutely not. Such words are spoken by those who cannot look and see. The world is full of beautiful, touching, cruel or silly stories. All that is needed is for the author not to be lazy, to sit down and write one of them. It's always good to pick a story that touches him.
Q: While casting for your film you prefer to cast a well known face or any new face which fit the character?
Dušan Davidov: With an animated film, the answer is easy. We always try to make the character of which you say was the original, that is unrepeatable. With a feature film, the answer is more difficult. Sometimes the story requires it to be played by unknown actors. I will give the film credibility, you believe it is not just a film, but a true depiction of reality.
Q: What is the most enjoyable thing about Production of the film?
Dušan Davidov: Final screening. The materialization of your idea. The feeling that you no longer know how to do it better. I haven't experienced that last feeling yet. I am able to watch my film as a spectator after two years. Not earlier.
Q: What is the best possible way to promote your film when you are on a tight budget?
Dušan Davidov: I do not know. If I knew him, I would be famous, successful and rich. Haha. Creation is, in a sense, a manifestation of absolute egoism. We create something that we would like to see on screens or on film screens. Whether we will be famous is not so important. It's terrible to keep looking for money. It kills every creator the most.
Q: When your next film is coming and what is it about?
Dušan Davidov: If I raise money for him, in a year. If not, in two years. It will be an animated sci-fi movie called "2.0". And the topic? Three: ecology, democracy and the colonization of an alien planet.
Q: What advice do you want to give to the new and upcoming filmmakers?
Dušan Davidov: Filming, filming and filming. Never give up. Trust yourself. If you don't succeed, it doesn't matter. At least you can show others which way it's not worth going. But you will do something to fulfill your dream. This is the most important thing in our work.
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