On The Edge
Director Tomislav Zaja
Countries Croatia
Duration 91 min
Synopsis
Although Leonard Pijetraj worked with many boxing champions, he have opened the doors of his club in Zagreb’s suburb of Dubrava also to “problem kids” with whom he is working pro bono under one condition only – they have to respect his rules inside and outside of the club. This boxing master is very special character in his surroundings who doesn’t see boxing as rude, but as subtle technique for spiritual fight with one’s self. In the same building, at the other side of the boxing club’s wall, the poor and homeless people are coming to the soup kitchen for their daily piece of bread and portion of beans. Some of them are hoping for an opportunity to start from beginning and others are too old for a new battle. Beside young boxers and homeless people, the third segment of the film are poets of Dubrava, members of the punk rock band “Prljavo kazalište” (aka Dirty Theatre). First songs by Davorin Bogovic and Jasenko Houra, written from 1978-1980, are giving timeless picture of social life in the worker’s and immigrant’s block on the edge of a big city. The songs used in the film are having a role of the commentary and are closely attached to the destinies of all characters which makes this film some kind of a documusical.
Although Leonard Pijetraj worked with many boxing champions, he have opened the doors of his club in Zagreb’s suburb of Dubrava also to “problem kids” with whom he is working pro bono under one condition only – they have to respect his rules inside and outside of the club. This boxing master is very special character in his surroundings who doesn’t see boxing as rude, but as subtle technique for spiritual fight with one’s self. In the same building, at the other side of the boxing club’s wall, the poor and homeless people are coming to the soup kitchen for their daily piece of bread and portion of beans. Some of them are hoping for an opportunity to start from beginning and others are too old for a new battle. Beside young boxers and homeless people, the third segment of the film are poets of Dubrava, members of the punk rock band “Prljavo kazalište” (aka Dirty Theatre). First songs by Davorin Bogovic and Jasenko Houra, written from 1978-1980, are giving timeless picture of social life in the worker’s and immigrant’s block on the edge of a big city. The songs used in the film are having a role of the commentary and are closely attached to the destinies of all characters which makes this film some kind of a documusical.