The Croatian silent film Birtija (1929) is a naturalistic drama that addresses the issue of alcoholism in the countryside. Its depiction of addiction and its devastating consequences remains relevant today. The band LHD (ex The Bambi Molesters) gives the film a new sonic dimension with live original music, connecting its story with a contemporary audience.
About the film Birtija
Croatia, 1929, silent film, 36’
Directed by: Joza Ivakić
Synopsis
After her father dies in a drunken brawl, villager Anka can no longer stand drunkards. She agrees to marry Franjo only after he promises never to drink again. Over time, however, under the influence of the farmer Meštra, Franjo breaks his promise and succumbs to alcoholism. Yet all of this is merely part of Meštra’s cunning plan to win Anka over…
Aiming to convey educational messages to Yugoslav farmers as effectively and clearly as possible, the film department of the Andrija Štampar School of Public Health took a bold step into feature filmmaking. The task of making two films about harmful habits in a Slavonian village was entrusted to the writer and theatre director Joza Ivakić from Vinkovci, a keen connoisseur of the Slavonian mentality.
His first film, Birtija, is a convincingly crafted naturalistic drama shot on authentic locations in Slavonia, featuring professional theatre actors.
The film was digitally restored in 2020 by the Croatian Cinematheque with the support of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre. Restoration work was carried out in Zagreb’s Ater and Klik Film studios, utilizing original film prints on flammable nitrate stock.
About the band LHD
LHD is an acronym formed from the initials of the band members, who embarked on a new musical adventure in 2018 following the breakup of The Bambi Molesters, where they had formed the core for roughly two decades. They released their first double A-side single, Boiling Water, Dreamy Girl / This Caramel Should Cover the Earth, in late 2019, followed by the single Green Voodoo / Blue Umbrella and their debut album Off the Grid (2022). With their signature sound and energetic live performances, the band has established itself on concert stages at home and abroad.
In September 2025, they released their second album, Summer Is Over, which explores the flexibility of genre boundaries across ten original tracks, delivering an inspiring sunset atmosphere and hinting at the endless possibilities that open up as summer draws to a close.
Over the past three years, the original trio expanded into a quartet when Lada, Hrvoje, and Dinko were joined on stage by Sven Pavlović, the producer of all their releases. The four-piece performs their signature original music on stages big and small, inviting listeners to explore boundless musical landscapes.
Following the project’s premiere at the DORF festival in Vinkovci in the summer of 2023, LHD continue to perform as part of the kin-o-zvuk project, accompanying the silent film Birtija with live original music.
Tickets on sale online and at Eventim outlets.
Organisation: Kraken Film Society, FeKK and Kino Šiška in collaboration with the Slovenian Cinematheque.
