KOKICE

Popcorn seller Milan expels his son for participating in student political protests. When the young man actually disappears in the striking Belgrade, the old man goes in search of him. So, through a series of strange encounters, Milan comes to rethink his whole life.

This film started from one picture in my head: a father selling popcorn in his small kiosk, while outside something bigger is happening. I wanted to show how simple, everyday life can meet big changes in society, and how family can get lost in that noise.

The story is about a father and his son who are separated during a student protest. For me, this is not only about protests, but about family, love, and the fear of losing someone close. In Serbia, people know this feeling of tension — between private life and public events — and I wanted to tell it in a way that feels close to them.

I filmed with energy and closeness, so the audience can feel the chaos of the street and at the same time the tenderness of the family story. The kiosk is small, almost invisible, but it is also the center of the father’s world. For the son it feels too narrow, and he wants to break free, to move toward the changes outside.

With this film I hope people feel that even when the world is loud and difficult, the most important thing is still the bond between people, and the hope not to lose each other.

This film was my third film shot abroad. After I took part in the march of Serbian students, screenwriter Evgeniya Rudyuk and I wrote a parable about a father and son against the background of protests, this is a story that will be understandable regardless of time and place.

Next
Next

Two days in Serbia | 2025