School Violence Echoes Real-Life Tragedy

Miroslav Terzić's third feature film, "3 Weeks After," inspired by real events, is set to premiere on July 7 at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Co-produced by Serbia, Bulgaria, Italy, Croatia, and Luxembourg, the film is dedicated to two young boys who died by suicide. It follows a group of students on a school trip to the Bulgarian mountains, three weeks after their classmate Andrij dies by suicide.

The narrative focuses on Andrij's best friend, Tsosta, who grapples with grief amidst apathy from classmates and powerless teachers. Director Terzić noted that the film explores how violence has become the everyday language of young people, with teachers often reverting to normalcy too quickly after tragedy. The film's casting involved meeting over 500 young actors, with most chosen being non-professionals.

Terzić found that many young actors deeply connected with the story, with some acknowledging their past roles in peer violence. The film's cinematography intentionally keeps a distance during violent scenes, reflecting societal tendencies to remain neutral observers. This technique aims to portray violence as a spectacle, detached from viewers, mirroring how contemporary audiences consume violent content on screens.

The film's themes of suicide and violence resonate particularly in Bulgaria, where such conversations often occur late. By premiering in the Czech Republic, Terzić anticipates diverse audience reactions to the mature subject matter, hoping the film prompts reflection and action regarding the pervasive nature of violence in society.