Local Justice – Zenica: Theatre Play Seeking Truth

“All societies in the former Yugoslavia actually show a lack of readiness to face their past. Here we have problems that have not got visibility. Speaking about it is good for the society. While we need to preserve respect towards victims, we have to speak about crimes committed by ethnic groups that cannot be commended,” says Oliver Frljic, Director of “Letters from 1920” play.

While preparing the “Letters from 1920” play, Frljic used the social reality instead of metaphors.

While testing the limits of public speech freedom, Frljic says, in response to questions on whether he expected the play to be disputed and prohibited because of its theme and provocative nature, he thought that he was “privileged because I can say what many people do not dare say”.

“We should start from the crimes that were committed in Zenica during the war by… it has not been proved… we should not prejudge those people… by people who are now very much present in the public life. We are very concrete in the play….” says the Director, alluding to the content of the play that will, as he expects, lead to a strong reaction from the audience.

He wanted the actors too to show such reactions. At some stage during the play the actors represent themselves and speak on their own behalf. Adis Mehanovic and Sasa Handzic from Zenica are among them. 

Mehanovic says that he is happy to be part of the pioneer project – the play that will say a lot.

When asked how he felt after the play that speaks about the Zenica musical school, which was used for detention, torture and executions, Handzic said that nobody felt at ease. As he said, everyone has a certain level of fear from what can happen later on, if they, for instance, decide to ban the play, accuse them of something and so on… Nevertheless, Handzic deems that things should move on and people should “listen to their heart when entering this project”.

His colleague, actor Slaven Vidak too shares his fear from the lack of reaction. “I am in panic that nothing will happen, even after a play like this one. The play should change something. If that does not happen, I don’t know what else we can do,” Vidak says. 

Oliver Frljic was born in Travnik. This play is the first he has directed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He made plays in Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia about the legacy of the 1990s, wars, crimes and chauvinism.

The title of the play, “Letter from 1920”, was taken over from a novel written by Ivo Andric, who was subjected to political instrumentalization in this region on several occasions.

Dž.S.