Original title: Plasitelj kormorana
English title: The Cormorant Scarecrow

HRT - Croatian television, Croatia, 1998
Documentary, duration 30 minutes
Original format 16mm
35 mm copy for screening
English subtitles

Director BRANKO ISTVANCIC
Screenwriter DAVOR SISMANOVIC
Camera BRANKO CAHUN
Editor VISNJA STERN
Music PERE ISTVANCIC
Sound TONI JURKOVIC

Synopsis: The film deals with people who work at a fish farm in Donji Miholjac in Croatia and who are responsible for forcing cormorants who devour fish stocks (which serves as food for humans). The problem is that cormorants are protected by law and because their habitats are located in neighboring Hungary, the daily lives of these people paid Sisyphean, absurd sign. This film simply wants to tell the story of a specific occupation, unusual not only because it is rare, but rounded out within it, I could almost say self-sufficient. It is a real "life on a small scale", a micro universe nearing extinction. To these people, guarding the fish farm by frightening away the cormorants is not a mere job but an obsession of sorts, and it does not end when the working day comes to a close. The reason for this attitude perhaps becomes clearer if we translate the administrative, dry description of their job into more human language. In this way, it seems to me, it becomes possible to see that what we have in this case is a battle for existence in it's most elementary form. Naturally, the cormorants are not doing a job they have "hidden" intentions they are merely trying to survive. And what could be called their "guilt" is exclusively a human categorization. On the other hand, the occupation of the guards is a factor in existential security. Therein lies the key to the relationship between the cormorants and their "scarecrows". Perhaps only subconsciously, but the guards is a factor in existential security, as long as the cormorants are there. This film has tried to show the compelling interdependence created in this way.

Film Director's Statement:
The Cormorant Scarecrow is is a black humour real life story. The film simply aims at telling the story about an occupation, unusual not only in that it is rare, but also in that it is in itself complete, one might even say self-sufficient. It is, in fact, "life on a small scale", a microcosm that is disappearing. To guard a fishpond and scare away the distant cormorants is not only a job, but also a form of an obsession that does not end at the close of the working day.

Festivals:
Croatian Film Festival 1998
International Tourfilm Festival Split Croatia 1998
Croatian New Cinema Budapest Hungary 2001
ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL USA 2003
Rastgele International Sea and Fishermen Film Festival 2005

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