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Tomorrow Morning

Sutra Ujutru (Serbia-Montenegro)

A Zillion Film production, in association with the Serbian Ministry of Culture, the City of Belgrade. (International sales: Zillion Film, Belgrade, Serbia.) Produced by Lazar Ristovski. Directed by Oleg Novkovic. Screenplay, Milena Markovic. With: Uliks Fehmiu, Nebojsa Glogovac, Nada Sargin, Lazar Ristovski, Ljubomir Bandovic, Radmila Tomovic, Danica Ristovski, Milos Vlalukin, Ana Markovic, Nebojsa Ilic, Jelena Djokic, Milos Andjelkovic, Branko Cvejic, Elizabeta Djorevska, Nada Blam, Renata Ulmanski, Miroljub Leso. (Serbian dialogue.)

By LESLIE FELPERIN
An emigre's return to Belgrade to get married becomes the occasion for several emotionally fraught and drunken reunions in "Tomorrow Morning," Serbian helmer and docmaker Oleg Novkovic's ("Why Have You Left Me") third fictional feature. Script set up and docu-style handheld look rep nothing new, but pic offers a credible portrait in miniature of a lost generation and a culture shaped by a civil war which is never directly mentioned here. Meaty perfs by the ensemble and solid helming should ensure a fest career dawns for "Morning," even if sales prospects look iffy.
After 12 years of working in the computer business in Canada, Nele (Uliks Fehmiu) returns to the rundown Belgrade housing project where he grew up. He plans to marry Maya (Ana Markovic), who is about 10 years younger than he is, but first he wants to reconnect with his old friends and family, who he left behind.
The women generally give Nele a warmer reception than the men, especially his put-upon mother (Danica Ristovski), his sexy but alcoholic ex-girlfriend Sasha (Nada Sargin), and another former flame, Ceca (Radmila Tomovic). Ceca is now married to Nele's old friend Bure (Ljubomir Bandovic), who envies Nele's popularity with the femmes. More friendly is former heroin-addict Mare (Nebojsa Glogovac), who runs a local bar.
In the old days, everyone was shagging everyone in this tight-knit circle whose members spent most of their time taking drugs, drinking and just hanging out. Nothing much has changed.
Nele, suffering from a classic case of exile guilt -- especially in regard to his best friend Sima (Milos Vlalukin) who committed suicide after he left -- is quickly drawn back into the routine.
Screenwriter Milena Markovic, who collaborated with helmer Novkovic on short docu "The Miner's Opera," has a background in legit, which shows here, particularly in the somewhat stagy set piece scenes. Still, pic offers a spot-on rendering of this grungy milieu without sentimentality, although some auds may find main characters less than sympathetic.
Vital info about the backstory is withheld consistently, such as why Sima committed suicide or why Nele's father (eminent Serbian thesp Lazar Ristovski, from "Underground"), is so hostile toward his own son. But, such obliqueness adds a realistic feel.
Thesp ensemble members play off each other nicely, and project an impressive amount of feeling with their modest portions of dialogue. Femme thesps are especially good.
Tech package is par for low-budget course, with lensing favoring long takes, and editing including abrupt cuts that add an edgy tone.

Camera (color, HD-to-35mm), Miladin Colakovic; editor, Lazar Predojev; music, Miroslav Mitrasinovic; production designer, Nevena Mijuskovic; sound (Dolby Digital), Dejan Pekovic. Reviewed at Karlovy Vary Film Festival (East of the West), July 2, 2006. Running time: 84 MIN.