Excursion
Spring Grants 2023 - Post-Production Stage
Una Gunjak / Feature Narrative / Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, France, Norway, Qatar / 93 min / Original Language: Bosnian / Interests: Coming of age, Drama
Synopsis
IMAN (15) and her class are planning their end of primary school excursion. While their parents discuss the trip, alarmed about a recent scandal where seven girls returned home pregnant, after a similar adventure, the kids in the schoolyard play Truth or Dare and debate a scandal of their own: rumor has it Iman had sex with DAMIR (18). He said it himself.
Iman is ecstatic! She doesn’t deny it – why would she?! She celebrates with her best friend HANA (14) by making fake nails and planning the excursion. While boys from her class tease her with nasty jokes, the girls seem more suspicious: after all, as quirky as she may be, Iman is not exactly a catch. What worries Iman though, is the fact Damir is avoiding her now. Even when she bumps into him in the neighborhood, he is busy with his friends, and doesn’t pay attention to her. Disappointed, she goes home, and with no one around apart from her blind grandad, she masturbates.
Next time she sees him is at the concert everyone goes to. In front of others, Iman pretends she has plans with Damir for later, but when he disappears without her, Iman is left humiliated and laughed at. She tries to swallow her pride, but then has a tantrum and leaves.
The next day in school, she vomits and confides to one of the girls she might be pregnant. Hana is shocked to hear this, but Iman reassures her it is just a stupid lie and that she will get out of it easily: she will ‘just abort’ like those other girls. Iman’s pregnancy is taken seriously; girls shower her with attention and take pity on her: she was always a bit naive. Most importantly, Damir seems to be chasing her now; Iman is scared to confront him yet, but also enjoys the thrill of being wanted.
Very soon however, Iman runs into a problem; the teachers have heard something and not long after, their own excursion is suspended. Upset, Iman’s class quickly turns against her. Even Iman’s mum MEDIHA (42) is called to school. Once finally alone with Iman, she demands an explanation. Exhausted and scared, Iman confesses to her mother she lied because she wanted everyone to believe she had sex.
While Mediha defends Iman in front of other parents, now even more hysteric, Iman arranges to meet Damir. She is excited, she prepares and shaves off her pubic hair. However, she is quickly disappointed – Damir is upset and angry and Iman realizes he doesn’t care about her. He was only bragging to boost his ego. A hurt Iman leaves and looks for Hana, but Hana’s parents don’t want them to be friends anymore.
Back in school, Iman’s intimacy still agitates spirits. A group of boys follow Iman to the toilets to check whether or not she’s still a virgin. A terrified Iman blocks the door and screams from the top of her lungs. The incident is reported but the school wants to keep it quiet. After this, they will surely have sufficient grounds on which to cancel the excursion.
Oblivious about the incident, Mediha waits for Iman after school, and they go for a walk in the joyously and distastefully decorated city center. After all, it’s the 8th of March.
Credits
- Director
- Una Gunjak
- Screenwriter
- Una Gunjak
- Producer
- Amra Bakšić Čamo, Adis Djapo
- Production Company
- SCCA/pro.ba, Co-production companies: Nukleus film , Baš Čelik, Salaud Morisset , Mer Film
About the Director
Una Gunjak was born and raised in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her first short film 'The Chicken' premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Critics' Week in 2014 and won the European Film Award for Best Short Film. Her other short film 'Salamat', made in Germany within the initiative Lebanon Factory, premiered at the Directors' Fortnight in 2017. 'Excursion' is her first feature film and gained the support of Eurimages, Aide au Développement at Cinemed 2019, Hubert Bals Script and Project Development Fund, and Sorfond in 2021.
Contacts
-
Main Contact
Amra Bakšić Čamo
- Company:
- SCCA/pro.ba
- Email:
- amra@pro.ba
-
Main Contact
Adis Dapo
- Company:
- SCCA/pro.ba
- Email:
- adis@pro.ba
-
Sales Agent
François Morisset
- Company:
- Salaud Morisset
- Email:
- festival@salaudmorisset.com