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DVD Review: What Iva Recorded |
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| Written by Trent Daniel | ||||||
| Monday, 23 November 2009 | ||||||
 Though the overall effectiveness of The Blair Witch Project is still open for debate, its makers should be appreciated for reminding budding filmmakers that the “found footage” subgenre-in which a participant in the action films the movie-can be an effective method for creating an absorbing, engaging film.Tomislav Radic’s What Iva Recorded is unique in that it uses the “found footage” technique not to tell a horror story, such as Blair Witch or Paranormal Activity, but to tell a sometimes painful, but often funny story about a Croatian family in the midst of a crisis. The technique does indeed “make us feel as if we are there,” as intended, which only heightens the drama. Iva (Masha Mati Prodan) has been given a video camera (a quite bulky one I might add) by her stepfather Bozo (Ivo Gregurevic) for her 15th birthday. However, though never spoken outright, it seems the camera was given to her as sort of an appeasement. Bozo, you see, plans on using Iva’s birthday party as means to invite over a German businessman, a Mr. Hoffman (Karl Menrad) he is desperate to have a business contract with. However, Things seem to go wrong for Bozo from the start. Iva’s mother (Anja Sovagovic-Despot) starts to cook a roast (burning her hand in the process) only to have Bozo declare that Herr Hoffman would prefer shrimp. Hoffman is late. An attractive friend of the mother cancels at the last minute. Iva’s ne’er do well Uncle Darko (Boris Svrtan) shows up a bit tipsy. Bozo convinces Darko to call one of his females over as a replacement for the lady who did not show up. The one who does, Nina (Barbara Pipic), later reveals herself to be a “professional escort.” More of the plot I dare not reveal. However, Iva’s camera effectively captures humorous moments that have an undercurrent of sadness. There is clearly tension in the family, as well as a level of disconnect between Iva and her stepfather (truth be told, she is closest to and identifies best with her Uncle Darko). Moments where the camera captures Iva shows that the she is a beautiful young girl who is trying to find her way in life, as well as trying to adjust to a new home(it is unclear how long she and her mom have lived with Bozo, but it is clear that Bozo is much older than his wife). Not all elements of the film work. A running joke in which an exasperated character (usually Bozo) begs Iva to “stop filming me: only to have her slyly find ways to keep filming, is repeated much too often. Secondly, though the film seems to be building to a rather explosive climax, the film seems to somewhat peter out at the end, leaving too much unresolved (that might be real life, but is not always good for a story). Still this is a well acted film and seemed quite realistic. Many of us probably have families quite similar to Iva’s and the family squabbles that result in this film might seem quite familiar at times. Its unique method of applying the “found footage” technique to family drama instead of horror makes it a film independent film lovers should check out. TO BUY OR RENT THE FILM CLICK HERE.
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