Safe place | SproutsFF23

Safe Place / Sigurno mjesto by Juraj Lerotić

Amsterdam Premiere | 2022 | Croatia | 102 minutes 

debut competition

A highly personal fictionalization of director Juraj Lerotić’s own journey to save his suicidal brother, while being bogged down by failing institutions. Decaying buildings, a clever breaking of the fourth wall and a sensitive sound design help channel the attention to three stellar performances. A sobering, heartfelt look at mental health problems and their crushing effects on aiding family members.

After the screening on May 11, we are going to talk with Marlou Ruijter and other t.b.a. speakers from Stichting Percival about the failing mental healthcare system and what can be changed. Stichting Perceval is founded by “the mad” (Gekken) for “the mad”. The term “the mad” is used as a reclaimed nickname, because they don’t want to use medical diagnoses to label themselves. Stichting Perceval is an inclusive community, open to all individuals.

Currently, the foundation offers three types of programs. The first is the madstudies reading groups. The second is a bi-monthly film program with a focus on the theme of madness. Lastly, Peerbuntu is a peer counseling group program.

Trigger warning: suicides and psychosis

The screenings of Safe Place are previews. The film will have a Dutch release in August as part of Previously Unreleased, made possible by Eye Filmmuseum.

The film is part of Sprouts Film Festival 2023, which will be held May 10-14. For more information about our festival and the SproutsFF23 films , click here. All selected feature films are competing for the Audience Award, so please do not forget to cast your vote when leaving the screening room. A three-headed jury consisting of industry professionals is in charge of selecting a winner from the films in the Debut Competition, while a three-headed jury of sustainability oriented students will do the same for the Eco Competition and the Eco Shorts Program.

All SproutsFF23 films are English subtitled, except for How to Blow Up a Pipeline and Vesper (which are English spoken and Dutch subtitled).