Documentary film 'DOM' officially opened Venice Nights at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival

(Patria) - The documentary film DOM, an intimate story about the fate of children from the Bjelave Home who were evacuated to Italy during the siege of Sarajevo in 1992, officially opened this year's Venice Nights as part of the prestigious Venice Days (Giornate degli Autori) program at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.

The directorial debut documentary work by Massimiliano Battistella combines archival footage and real-life documentary shots of Mirela Hodo, one of the 66 children evacuated from the Home for Children without Parental Care in Bjelave to Italy. What was supposed to be a temporary stay turned into over three decades of life in Italy, where forty-year-old Mirela now lives with her partner and two children. The film brings to life Mirela's inner dialogue during her emotional journey into the past and search for her true identity.

DOM tells a powerful story of reconciliation with the past and the search for meaning in a complex identity. The film not only follows Mirela's personal journey but transforms her individual memory into a collective consciousness of children who survived war and displacement, offering a form of therapy for the trauma experienced.

“For me, it was liberating to meet people who allow me to share my emotions. What I went through caused pain that will never pass, it will remain forever. I can learn to live it in a different way, but it will follow me forever,” said the film's main protagonist.

Director Battistella explained that by combining archival footage and shots from Mirela's current life, he tried to establish a constant dialogue between the present and the past, thereby giving the film the value of historical testimony, and filtering Mirela's subjectivity.

Psychodramatist Lisa Pazzaglia was key in the process, creating the script through close listening to Mirela's reflections.

“In that process, it is always important to be able to take a step back and not put pressure on the person whose story is being told. By establishing complete trust, we managed to tell a story that becomes universal, because Mirela's story encompasses the stories of many who have lived through this experience, especially that at the Bjelave Home, although the theme of abducted childhood, unfortunately, extends to all of humanity.”

The Italian-Bosnian-Herzegovinian film was produced by Riccardo Biadene on behalf of Kama production company based in Rome and Venice, and co-produced by Ivana Cvetković Bajrović from Method and Nihad Kreševljaković from the International Theatre Festival Mess in Sarajevo.

“The very nature of the project required it to work on both sides of the Adriatic in the same way, not just from our side,” explained Biadene, emphasizing the important role of co-producers from Sarajevo, as well as other collaborators on the film such as composer Nedim Zlatar.

The result is a film that speaks with equal understanding about Mirela's life, environment, and friends in Sarajevo as well as in Italy.

“I am amazed by the sensitivity with which Massimiliano approached this story. It is not easy for someone who is not from our region to understand the different aspects and nuances of our history and culture. However, he and the rest of the team understood our culture, our mentality, and the baggage we carry from the recent past very well. All these aspects are presented in DOM in a flawless manner,” said co-producer Ivana Cvetković Bajrović, adding that she looks forward to future projects in collaboration with Kama production.

Nihad Kreševljaković agrees.

“I am very pleased to be part of this exceptional documentary film that tells an important human story. It is a story about the strength of people, but also a story that is painfully relevant today. The collaboration with Italian producer Riccardo Biadene, the director, and the entire team was truly inspired by friendship and love for a story that I believe makes this world a better and more meaningful place in some way. In today's world, that is an undertaking in every respect,” said Kreševljaković.

The film DOM premiered in Venice on August 28, 2025, at 9 PM, with an additional screening on August 29 at 1 PM. A concert by Nedim Zlatar, the composer of the original music for the film, was organized for guests and the film crew on both evenings.

The Venice International Film Festival, held from August 27 to September 6, 2025, is one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in the world.