Although it arrived in Croatia in 2017, this is the first time the streaming platform Netflix has included 12 contemporary Croatian films in its catalogue, all from the distributor Blitz.
The films were released online gradually between August 18th and September 15th.
The first film offered by Netflix, The Diary of Paulina P. by Neven Hitrec is about a 14 year-old schoolgirl full of confidence and wit who doesn’t hesitate to say what she thinks. Released last March, it was a huge success in cinemas, selling more than 86,000 tickets – making it the second best theatrical debut for a children’s feature film.
Also offered on the Netflix platform is Goran Dukić’s musical Do Pigs Go to Heaven? Set in a rural Croatian village during the 1990 war, a wild boar of Serbian origin is slaughtered during a wedding party.
The Director of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Chris Marcich, explained that the arrival of these films on Netflix is thanks to a new law on digital media. The American company is now required to invest 2% of its annual revenues in the production or purchase of Croatian films. “By purchasing Croatian films, Netflix gives them greater visibility, which is also one of our goals,” he said.
Sources: Film New Europe, Croatia Week
