Tito's break-up with Stalin in 1948 marked the beginning of not only confusing, but also very dangerous, years for many hard-core Yugoslav communists. A careless remark about the newspaper cartoon is enough for Mesha to join many arrested unfortunates. His family is now forced to cope with the situation and wait for his release from prison.

Mehmed 'Meša' Zolj, otac

Senija 'Sena' Zolj, majka

Zijah 'Zijo' Zulfikarpašić

Ankica Vidmar

Kućepazitelj Franjo

Muzafer Zulfikarpašić, dedo

Ostoja Cekić

Ilonka Petrović

Fahro Zulfikarpašić

Brko Pilot

Mirza Malkoč, brat

Doktorova žena
Emir Kusturica's When Father Was Away on Business is a courageous, funny, and deeply moving film that blends comedy, family drama, and political realism. The title refers to the lie a family tells a six-year-old boy to explain his father's imprisonment in a labor camp for a thoughtless remark that offended Communist officials. It won the Palme d'Or at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.
January 15, 1985

Mehmed 'Meša' Zolj, otac

Senija 'Sena' Zolj, majka

Zijah 'Zijo' Zulfikarpašić

Ankica Vidmar

Kućepazitelj Franjo

Muzafer Zulfikarpašić, dedo

Ostoja Cekić

Ilonka Petrović

Fahro Zulfikarpašić

Brko Pilot

Mirza Malkoč, brat

Doktorova žena
Emir Kusturica's When Father Was Away on Business is a courageous, funny, and deeply moving film that blends comedy, family drama, and political realism. The title refers to the lie a family tells a six-year-old boy to explain his father's imprisonment in a labor camp for a thoughtless remark that offended Communist officials. It won the Palme d'Or at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.

