Mirage | |
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Directed by | Svetozar Ristovski |
Written by | Svetozar Ristovski Grace Lea Troje |
Produced by | Svetozar Ristovski Harold Lee Tichenor |
Starring | Vlado Jovanovski Mustafa Nadarević Nikola Đuričko Dejan Aćimović Marko Kovačević |
Cinematography | Vladimir Samoilovski |
Edited by | Atanas Georgiev |
Music by | Klaus Hundsbichler |
Distributed by | Crescent Releasing Picture This! (US) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 107 minutes |
Country | Macedonia |
Languages | Macedonian Albanian |
Mirage (Macedonian: Илузија; transliterated Iluzija) is a 2004 Macedonian drama film starring Vlado Jovanovski, Mustafa Nadarević, Nikola Đuričko, and Dejan Aćimović, with Marko Kovačević debuting in its lead role. It was directed by Svetozar Ristovski, who co-wrote the film with Grace Lea Troje. Taking place in the city of Veles, the film is a coming-of-age story about a talented but abused schoolboy who is betrayed by illusory hopes of a better future and transformed by harsh circumstances into a criminal. It offers a grim depiction of post-independence Macedonia, portraying it as a site of violence and corruption.
Mirage was Ristovski's feature debut as a director. Following its release in Canada and the United States, it was well-received by most critics, who have generally praised the film for its uncompromising realism and lead actor's performance. It won Best Feature Film during the 2005 Anchorage International Film Festival and was nominated for the Tokyo Grand Prix during the 2004 Tokyo International Film Festival.