THE LOAD
A film by Ognjen Glavonić
2018, 98 minutes
2018, 98 minutes
No. 227
Narrative
Narrative
Description
Premiering to rapturous reviews in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes, Ognjen Glavonić’s narrative feature debut, The Load, is a taut suspense thriller recalling The Wages of Fear and Sorcerer.
During NATO’s bombing of Serbia in 1999, Vlada, a truck driver, is hired to undertake a treacherous path across his war-torn country and deliver mysterious cargo. On a journey where friend and foe prove indistinguishable, Vlada comes to realize the horrifying ramifications of his mission.
Brilliantly photographed and overwhelmingly atmospheric, The Load signals the arrival of a major talent.
Festivals
Official Selection, Cannes Film Festival
Official Selection, New Directors / New Films
Official Selection, Toronto International Film Festival
Winner, Best Film, Zagreb Film Festival
Winner, Best Director, Pingyao Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon International Film Festival
Winner, Best Director, Marrakech International Film Festival
Winner, Best Director, Art Film Fest
Winner, FIPRESCI Prize, Cottbus Film Festival
Winner, Best International Film, Haifa International Film Festival
Reviews
“Masterful. One of the ten best films of the year.” – Artforum
"Critic's Pick! Set in a Yugoslavia wracked by violence, the film puts across powerful questions of individual responsibility in the face of atrocity. An atmospheric, gripping film." – The New York Times
“Four stars! Mesmerizing. This is one of the year’s best films.” – RogerEbert.com
“A brooding thriller. The overtly graphic isn’t Glavonic’s visual style, but rather a cold, more powerful image seepage.” – Los Angeles Times
“Four stars! A masterpiece of suspense, a caustic thriller gorgeously photographed by Tatjana Krstevski.” – This Week in New York
“Harrowing. An impressive new filmmaker.” — Variety
"Has that rare quality of dramatizing not the obvious evils of a conflict, but the torturous grey zone of how survival can implicate participation." — Notebook
“An austere suspense thriller.” — The Hollywood Reporter
