Sevap / Mitzvah (A Good Deed) is a 2023 period drama film written and directed by Sabina Vajrača, and executive produced by Sanela Diana Jenkins and D Empire Entertainment.[1] It is inspired by a true story of Bosnian Muslim and Jewish families that save each other's lives.[2]
| Sevap / Mitzvah | |
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| Directed by | Sabina Vajrača |
| Written by | Sabina Vajrača |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Edited by | Saša Peševski |
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Release date |
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Running time | 20 minutes |
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The film stars Helena Vuković, Adnan Hasković, Sanela Krsmanović-Bistrivoda, Magdalena Živaljić Tadić, Muhamed Hadžović, Reshad Strik and Rijad Gvozden.
Sevap / Mitzvah had its world premiere on March 30, 2023.[3]
Plot
editThe film is based on a true event, and it is about the Muslim Hardaga family who saved the Jewish Kabiljo family in 1941 Nazi-occupied Bosnia during the Second World War. 50 years later, during the Serbian aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Kabiljo family rescues the Hardaga family from a besieged Sarajevo.[4]
Cast
edit- Helena Vuković as Zejneba Hardaga
- Sanela Krsmanović-Bistrivoda as Bahra Hardaga
- Magdalena Živaljić Tadić as Rifka Kabiljo
- Adnan Hasković as Mustafa Hardaga
- Muhamed Hadžović as Izet Hardaga
- Frano Mašković Mačak as Josef Kabiljo
- Rijad Gvozden as Ivica
- Emina Muftić as Older Zejneba Hardaga
- Jasna Buha as Older Rifka Kabiljo
- Snežana Vidović as Aida Hardaga
- Reshad Strik JDC Representative
Reception and awards
editSonia McCloud of Film-Business gave the film 4 stars, saying “Writer and director Sabina Vajraća has created a masterpiece that captures the true essence of those most harrowing events.”[5] FilmThreat’s Alan Ng said “the performances stand out” and “Vukovic carries the film.”[6] Valerie Milano of The Hollywood Times stated Sevap / Mitzvah “is a must-watch film showcasing humanity’s true essence.”[7]
Sevap / Mitzvah won the Humanitas Prize for Short Film in 2023 by Humanitas,[8] the organization that annually honors film and television writers whose work best explores the human condition.[9]
The film has won multiple awards at film festivals including the Audience Award at Italy's 2023 Sedicicorto International Film Festival,[10] the International Vision Award at the 2023 Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival,[11] and Best Female Focus Jury Award at the 2023 Cordillera International Film Festival.[12] Also in 2023, Sevap / Mitzvah won the Short film Human Rights Fiction award at Ecocine International Environmental and Human Rights Film Festival in Brazil,[13] and Gratitude Award Fiction Short at the Centre Film Festival in State College, Pennsylvania.[14]
Sevap / Mitzvah qualified to be considered for a 2024 Academy Award.[15]
References
edit- ↑ BiH, N1 (September 24, 2023). "Sanela Jenkins izvršna producentica na filmu koji je u utrci za Oskara". N1 (in Bosnian). Retrieved October 18, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Gerrie, Anthea. "Meet the Muslim and Jew who saved each others lives in conflicts decades apart". www.thejc.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ↑ Michael (September 12, 2023). "Oscar® Qualifying Sevap Mitzvah by Sabina Vajraca: A Woman Risks Her Life to Save Her Friend". indieactivity. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ↑ "'Sevap/Mitzvah'- a film based on true events of Bosnian Muslims and Jews saving one another in wars". The Business Standard. June 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ↑ McCloud, Sonia (March 23, 2023). "CIFF 2023: Sabina Vajraca's SEVAP/MITZVAH – based on true events in Nazi-occupied Bosnia a Muslim woman risks her life to save a Jewish friend and her family". FILM & TELEVISION BUSINESS. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ↑ "Sevap/Mitzvah Featured, Reviews Film Threat". March 29, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ↑ Milano, Valerie (September 18, 2023). ""SEVAP/MITZVAH" by Sabina Vajraca | The Hollywood Times". Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ↑ Hipes, Patrick (August 16, 2023). "Humanitas Prize Winners Include 'The Last Of Us', Tyler Perry, Cooper Raiff's 'Cha Cha Real Smooth'". Deadline. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ↑ "2023 Winners & Nominees". Humanitas. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ↑ coolstyle.ba. "Na putu do Oskara: Film Sevap/Mitzvah osvojio nagradu publike u Italiji". www.faktor.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ↑ "Na putu do Oscara, film "Sevap/Mitzvah" osvojio nagradu publike u Italiji". www.klix.ba (in Croatian). Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ↑ "2023 Awards". Cordillera. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ↑ ecocine.eco. "Conheça os premiados do Ecocine 2023". www.instagram.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ↑ "Awards 2023". Centre Film Festival. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ↑ Higgins, John (September 16, 2023). "Short Film Review: SEVAP/MITZVAH". Film and TV Now. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.