Yugoslavia, 1981, 107’
directed by: Emir Kusturica
written by: Abdulah Sidran, Emir Kusturica
cast: Slavko Štimac, Slobodan Aligrudić, Ljiljana Blagojević, Mira Banjac, Pavle Vuisić, Nada Pani, Boro Stjepanović, Žika Ristić
cinematography: Vilko Filač
edited by: Senija Tičić
producers: Berislav Petrušić
production: Jadran Film, Sutjeska film, RTV Sarajevo
Yugoslav entry for the Academy Awards – Best Foreign Language Film; Venice IFF 1981 – Best First Film, FIPRESCI Prize; Yugoslav Feature Film Festival in Pula 1981 – Golden Arena for Best Screenplay, C.I.D.A.L.C. Award for Directing, Studio Golden Wreath Award for Best Debut Director, Mladost Award for Directing
Emir Kusturica's first film Do You Remember Dolly Bell? is a comedy drama about growing up in Sarajevo in the 1960s. It was the time when Yugoslavia started opening to the West. That included a new, modern way of life, popular culture, music and films that had a strong impact on younger generations in particular. Young Dino lives in a modest house in a housing project with his strict father, housewife mother, two brothers and a sister. Watching movies is his escape from reality. There he becomes thrilled with the lifestyle he sees on film. Soon he becomes a petty criminal and, at the request of a local criminal, he hides prostitute Dolly Bell in his place. Dino falls in love with her and his life turns upside down.
Emir Kusturica was born in Sarajevo in 1954. His films won the most prestigious awards at festivals around the world. When Father Was Away on Business (1985) won him Golden Palm in Cannes, FIPRESCI Award and an Oscar nomination for Best Film in Foreign Language. Time of the Gypsies and Arizona Junior won him awards in Cannes and at Berlinale, while Underground (1995) won him his second Golden Palm