Iluzija Reviews

This is the first and only movie made in the Republic of Macedonia that I have seen. I am still under its influence when I am writing this review and I can assure you that once when you have seen this movie it would leave a lasting impression in you. Shown first at the Tokyo International Film Festival festival in Tokyo ,Mirage is a prime example of quality European cinema.

When the movie started I paid attention mostly to the surroundings as for me the director wanted to show the atmosphere in which Marco lives. But who is Marco ? 12 year old Macedonian boy -full of emotions,talent for writing and dreams for a better life . The first few scenes review little of his personality as the directors shows various scenes of the turbulent live in Macedonia.Those scenes seem to prepare the viewer for what he is about to see, explain the mentality of the characters and set the overall tone of the movie. Even through these scenes are filmed in a professional manner and the viewer is warned at the very begging of the movie that hope can not do any good - the viewer still is not fully prepared for what is about to happen in the course of the movie.

I have noticed that many young actors are now making memorable debuts and the seventh-grader Marko Kovacevic is no exception. His character could be a real challenge for many much more experienced actors .Marco`s role is a symbioses of two distinct words - the world of a young poet - his private world and the live in Macedonia , its social and economic climate seen through the eyes of an sensitive and innocent boy . Sadly this innocence is about to be lost as the story unfolds.

The life of Marco is not an easy one - he gets bullied at school, his father is an alcoholic - his sister a rebel - the mother seems to have accepted a submissive way to existence taking care of her family/husband. In one of the scenes Marco ask his Mom is she could guess who wrote the best homework/story at his school - typical question for every kid who did a good job and wants to be appreciated by someone , the closest one - the parent- she does not make a single comment or reaction to that question. Marco starts hating his home - the only place he can be alone with himself in an old train wagon in which he spends his time - thinking, dreaming , playing chess by himself.

The teacher of Marco recognizes his talent and tell him that if he does well on writing a poem about the country he could be sent to a competition in Paris ( the city of life). Marco is really influenced by the words of his teacher and he sees a way to escape from his harsh reality by winning the competition. Soon after Marco is about to find out that hopes and mirages are both dangerous and not always real as the world around him is far from ideal.

It is scary - I was scared by the truth which lies in the realizations that Marco made for the world about him and the life in general. Number of times there were people who like Marco`s teacher have recognized in me one or another virtue and then I have seen that there is a a lot of hypocrisy in their words.

There are several role models which Marco can choose to follow - his teacher is one of them. He proves not worthy water on . But Marco meets Paris - an ex - soldier who is more or less a criminal - living by the laws of the jungle ” Eat of be eaten” . One could conclude that live hasn’t been easy for Paris as well - but his strong characters helped him to survive. Marco learns a lot out of their conversations - but at the end he is disappointed by him as well. At one moment Marco through that he could avoid the beating by joining the bullies - yet another mistake that proves one of the rules I live by - Be what you are !

Betrayed by everyone - Marco decided to act….and then the ending comes.

Mirage is indeed one of the most hash and powerful coming of age movie I have seen so far.