The Glembays
The Glembays

Movie spotlight

The Glembays

1988
Movie
120 min
Serbo-Croatian

The Glembays of Zagreb are a rich family cursed with tragedies and haunted by sinister past. Leone Glembay, a rebelious son of the family patriarch, is becoming disgusted with hypocrisy, perversion and crime that runs in the family.

Insights

IMDb7.6/10
Director: Antun VrdoljakGenres: Drama, History

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the tragic decline of the noble Glembay family, focusing on the cynical Baron Ignjat Glembay and his younger wife, the beautiful and ambitious baronesa. Set against the backdrop of Sarajevo during the Austro-Hungarian period, it delves into themes of greed, betrayal, and moral decay.

Critical Reception

The Glembays (Glembajevi) is a significant work in Croatian cinema, often lauded for its powerful performances and its ambitious adaptation of Miroslav Krleža's celebrated play. It received critical acclaim for its thematic depth and its stark portrayal of societal and familial disintegration, though some found its length and dramatic intensity challenging.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its compelling dramatic performances, particularly from the lead actors.

  • Recognized for its faithful and impactful adaptation of Krleža's complex literary work.

  • Noted for its bleak yet powerful exploration of human nature and societal corruption.

Google audience: Audience reviews for 'The Glembays' are generally positive, with viewers frequently highlighting the powerful acting and the film's dramatic intensity. Many appreciate its historical context and its unflinching look at a family's downfall.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the renowned play 'Glembajevi' by Miroslav Krleža, a cornerstone of 20th-century Croatian literature.

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