As Far as I Can Walk explained

As Far as I Can Walk
Director:Stefan Arsenijević
Music:Martynas Bialobžeskis
Cinematography:Jelena Stankovic
Editing:Vanja Kovačević
Released: (Karlovy Vary)
Runtime:92 minutes

As Far as I Can Walk (also known as Strahinja Banović or Strahinja) is a 2021 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Stefan Arsenijević and written by Arsenijević, Bojan Vuletić and Nicolas Ducray. It is a modern reimagining of Strahinja Banović, a hero of medieval Serbian epic poetry, that follows a young Ghanaian couple living as refugees in Belgrade. It premiered at the 55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it won five awards.

Plot

Strahinja and his wife Ababuo left Ghana and reached Germany at the beginning of the refugee crisis, but then they were returned to Belgrade. Serbia may not be Germany, but Strahinya is doing his best to start a new life. He gave himself this Serbian name to better fit into his new surroundings.

They live in a refugee camp in Krnjača, and Strahinja works hard to get asylum, tries his hand at playing football for a local club and works as a volunteer for the Red Cross. One day, a new wave of refugees from Syria arrives in Krnjača, among them the charismatic Ali.

Cast

Production

The film was produced by Miroslav Mogorovich of Serbia's Art & Popcorn, Alice Ormieres of France's Surprise Valley, Gilles Chanial of Luxembourg's Les Films Fauves, Borislav Chouchkov of Bulgaria's Chouchkov Brothers, and Kestutis Drazdauskas of Lithuania's Artbox. The project received support from Eurimages, Film Center Serbia, the Serbian Film Incentive, Film Fund Luxembourg, the Bulgarian National Film Center, the Lithuanian Film Centre, the CNC's Aide aux cinémas du monde, and the European Union's Creative Europe MEDIA.[2]

Principal photography took place on location in Belgrade in 2020.

Awards and nominations

Year AwardCategoryRecipient(s)Result Ref
2021Karlovy Vary International Film FestivalCrystal Globe Grand PrixAs Far as I Can Walk
Special Jury MentionJelena Stankovic
Jury AwardAs Far as I Can Walk
Europa Cinemas Label Award
Best ActorIbrahim Koma[3]
Cairo International Film FestivalEuropean FilmAs Far as I Can Walk
KineNova Film FestivalBest DirectorStefan Arsenijević[4]

Notes and References

  1. 'As Far As I Can Walk' Review: A Ghanaian Refugee Couple's Paths Diverge in a Moving Serbian Drama. Variety. Guy. Lodge. 28 August 2021. 27 November 2021.
  2. Web site: Stefan Arsenijević's As Far as I Can Walk currently in post-production. Cineuropa. Davide. Abbatescianni. 22 December 2020. 27 November 2021.
  3. Web site: 'As Far as I Can Walk' Takes Top Prize at Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Variety. Will. Tizard. 28 August 2021. 20 September 2021.
  4. Web site: FESTIVALS: The Other Side of the River Wins KineNova Film Festival 2021. FNE. Marina. Lazarevska. 2 November 2021. 27 November 2021.