Director and screenwriter Zdravko Sotra, author of more than 120 extremely popular films and television achievements, he died at the age of 93.
By his own admission, which is part of his book "My 500 Actors", for theater he was interested in the play "The Forest" by Aleksandar Ostrovski, which he saw in 1948 at the National Theater, i.e. the play by Ljubiša Jovanović.
"A kind of warm voice, a noble pathos, a restrained romantic charge in it... Not to be long, when I came out of National Theatre, I was no longer quite the same person who entered. (...) I believe that meeting with Ljubiša Jovanović still directed my destiny", Šotra wrote.
The magic of theater
He enrolled in the Construction Secondary Technical School and, with a diploma from that school, got a job as a construction technician in the Administration for the Maintenance of Residential Buildings of the municipality. Sava wreath. Then he was friends with the actor Slobodan Aligrudić, they went to matches and cheered for different clubs.
At that time, Aligrudić was acting as an amateur in the "Lola Ribar" company.
"Once, after our honeymoon, he took me to 'Lola' for a rehearsal. It will fatefully direct my further life," wrote Shotra.
The acting was led by an actor. Yugoslav Drama Theater Marjan Lovrić, the hero of our first film "Slavica".
Šotra only wanted to watch the rehearsal, but Lovrić invited him to join them - they were preparing Jove Jovanović's "Carp" Zmaj.
"And now I'm a construction technician and an actor. In the morning I wait for someone to complain that their roof is leaking, the kettle is leaking, etc., so that I can give an order to fix it. Then in 'Lolo' for a rehearsal. Attending the rehearsals, I started to feel a new excitement and the magic of a world in which I need to find my place overwhelms me. I loved coming to that bigger room on the ground floor of the building in Resavska more and more," wrote Šotra.
Photo: Stefan VacicZdravko Sotra
Famous films and series and numerous awards
That September, Šotra and Aligrudić were admitted to the Academy of Theater and Film, for directing and acting respectively.
He graduated in directing at the Academy of Theatre, Film, Radio and Television in Belgrade in 1954 in the class of Professor Vjekoslav Afrić.
Na Television Belgrade he was employed since its establishment, in 1958 until 2001.
During the seventies, he directed the extremely popular television series "Face to Face" with Dragan Nikolić and Milena Dravić. He directed anthology films and series "Brothers by Mater", "Barking at the Stars", "Zona Zamfirova", "Ivkov's Glory", "More than the Game", "Battle in Kosovo", "Professor Vujic's Hat", "Santa Maria della Salute" and "Wounded Eagle".
The anthology of local cinematography includes the works "Winning of Freedom", "Sixth Gear", "Let's Go Further", "Igman March", "Mrs. Minister" and "Robbery of the Third Reich".
Šotra has been awarded domestic and international recognitions, awards at the Pula Festival, several Golden and Silver Mimosas in Herceg Novi, a Golden Knight in Moscow, an Award at the Prague Festival, the October Awards of the City of Belgrade, the Grand Prix in Portorož, the Golden Harp in Dublin and the Golden Rose of Montreal for the creation of "Romance with Double Bass".
Photo: Dragan Mujan/Nova.rsZdravko Sotra
Unsuitable for the regime
Because he was unfit to rule mode The tents, by their own admission, regularly turned down offers.
Thus, in 2024, the five-member commission of the Film Center of Serbia, which evaluated 39 candidates in the competition of the Film Center of Serbia (FCS) for the allocation of funds for co-financing the production of feature films, among others, rejected Šotra's film about Milena Pavlović Barila.
About the commission's work, Šotra told "Vreme" that "there is nothing to talk about".
"I told the producer of my film Miroslav Mogorović and the writer Maja Herman Sekulić, based on whose book 'Nine Lives of Milena Pavlović Barila' I wrote the screenplay, that neither I, nor all those unfit for the regime, have anything to expect from the regime-worthy FCS and its commission," Šotra said at the time.
As an example, he stated that "the editor of RTS, the company he worked for over 60 years, now regularly rejects his offers, is also in the commission."
"Among other things, the adaptation of Pistalo's novel by Fr Tesla. The last time the above-mentioned person calls me on the phone, his voice trembles with happiness, when he informs me that I have been rejected again. I am judged by a person who will not leave any trace in that house," said Shotra at the time.
The commission assessed that the film of the production company "Zilion", owned by Lazar Ristovski, deserves by far the most state money.
"Well, if the production of 'Zillion' was really the best, it wouldn't have been enough for her if Laza hadn't clicked so clearly and too loudly to the main boss. Who is to blame for the rest of us that we didn't find the strength to do that?" concluded Shotra.
This October, "Vreme" celebrates and honors - as much as 35 percent discount for our 35th birthday! Valid for semi-annual and annual subscriptions. Subscribe now!
