THE GREAT SCHOOL CLASS
Lessons from the Forest
45’ 00’’
In collaboration with poet Aleksandar Surbatovic and composer Matija Andjelkovic, I created a 45-minute film that brings to life the poem "Lessons from the Forest" and the accompanying composition, all originally performed at the 2019 Great School Class manifestation.
This film is a tribute to the victims of the Kragujevac massacre, a devastating event that claimed the lives of 30,000 innocent civilians, including 2,264 people shot on October 21, 1941, and 300 high school students and dozens of children.
Shot in Šumarice Memorial Park, the film condenses the solemnity of the event into a poignant and powerful narrative, weaving together poetic and musical elements that honor the memory of the victims. The film's 45-minute duration mirrors the duration of a typical school class, a reminder of the impact of such events on the lives of those who lived through them.
Through this film, I aim to create a bridge between the past and the present, a tribute to the bravery and resilience of those who survived, and a reminder of the importance of remembrance.
Poem: Aleksandar Šurbatović
Composer: Matija Anđelković
Video: Radmila Vankoska
Orchestra: VIS Nebograd
Production: "Kragujevac October" Memorial Park;
City of Kragujevac; Radio Television of Serbia