EXCLUSIVE: Trailer for Karlovy Vary title As Far as I Can Walk
- A reimagining of the Serbian epic poem Banovich Strahinya, Stefan Arsenijević’s second feature centres on a young couple of Ghanaian migrants
Belgrade-born writer-director Stefan Arsenijević will present his sophomore feature, As Far as I Can Walk [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Stefan Arsenijević
film profile], in the main competitive section of this year’s Karlovy Vary Film Festival (20-28 August). Arsenijević’s debut, entitled Love and Other Crimes [+see also:
trailer
film profile], premiered at the Berlinale in 2008. He also co-wrote Bojan Vuletić’s Practical Guide to Belgrade with Singing and Crying [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which screened at the 2011 edition of Karlovy Vary.
As Far as I Can Walk follows Strahinya (Ibrahim Koma) and his wife, Ababuo (Nancy Mensah-Offei), both aged 28, who left Ghana at the beginning of the migrant crisis. They managed to reach Germany but were deported back to Belgrade. Serbia may not be Germany, but Strahinya does his best to start a new life. He works hard to secure asylum, trying out as a football player for a local club and working as a volunteer for the Red Cross. The process, however, is lengthy, and Ababuo, a passionate woman aspiring to become an actress in London, feels unfulfilled. One night, a new group of Syrian refugees arrive, on their way to Western Europe. One of them is Ali (Maxim Khalil), a charismatic left-wing activist. Ababuo initially mocks him but, the very next day, leaves Serbia with him. Strahinya starts his journey on the Balkan route for completely different reasons than anyone else: for love. The film aspires to be “a reimagining of the medieval Serbian epic poem Banovich Strahinya”, wherein “contemporary African migrants take the place of Serbian national heroes”.
As Far as I Can Walk was produced by Serbia’s Art & Popcorn, Luxembourg’s Les Films Fauves, France’s Surprise Alley, Bulgaria’s Chouchkov Brothers and Lithuania’s Artbox. It also received the support of Eurimages, Film Center Serbia, Film Fund Luxembourg, France’s CNC, the Bulgarian National Film Center, the Lithuanian Film Centre and the European Union’s Creative Europe – MEDIA programme. Serbia's Soul Food is in charge of the drama’s international sales.
Check out our exclusive trailer below:
Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.
