Wednesday December 7th 2016

Croatia  2013     96 minutes
Director: Vinka Bresan
Starring: Kresimir Mikic, Niksa Butijer, Marija Skaricic.

Father Fabijan is a young priest taking over from his popular predecessor Father Jakov on a small island off the Dalmatian coast. He is disturbed to find that his ageing congregation is inexorably shrinking, as the death-rate outstrips the birth-rate. He suspects, correctly, that his flock are quietly disobeying the Church’s teaching on contraception. With the help of the island’s pharmacist and its newsagent, he sets about trying to reverse the situation. The results are not entirely what the young idealistic clergyman envisaged. A lightweight but enjoyable satirical comedy, it is based on a controversial play first staged in Croatia.