Actually, he\u2019s American from Jersey, but his father was so Croatian that I could barely understand a word he said! And I loved that. It meant so much to me when he first broke-out a map of Croatia and explained it all to me. I wish his dad was still on this level of life so that I could tell him about this lovely evening of all things Croat I attended last week, which was the first time that I was in the company of about three hundred<\/em> Croatians, all sounding like him! I wish I could have chatted with everyone there.<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the big photo at the top of the page.<\/p><\/div>\n Before I tell you all about this special evening, I must say that as a major sports fan, I always root for Mr. X\u2019s countrymen, such as tennis star, Marin Cilic. So I was happy to see not only Marin but a few others in a promo for the Croatian National Tourist Board that night. In it, Marin proclaims, \u201cWhen you want to lift your spirits sky high, you have to come to Croatia!\u201d I was happy to hear that because now I don\u2019t have to feel so bad when he keeps getting beat by The Stranger I Love Most, Roger Federer!<\/p>\n The occasion for the \u201cFilm\u201d part of the \u201cNight\u201d (in the title above) was the United States premiere of Croatia\u2019s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film for the upcoming Academy Awards. I really never thought of this before, but all the films in America<\/em> are eligible for nominations each year, but the other<\/em> countries can each submit only one<\/em> film each, out of all of theirs! That\u2019s a lot of pressure on movie studios to produce the country\u2019s best. And, in this<\/em> case, I don\u2019t doubt that The Eighth Commissioner<\/em> is exactly that!<\/p>\n To be honest, I was concerned that I wouldn\u2019t be able to sit still for the entire two hours and twenty minutes of it. But, even as slow-paced as it is, I was riveted. I have so many questions about this film!<\/p>\n The filmmakers. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n I would have queried the filmmakers themselves, who were all in attendance that night, but the post-screening reception, in the courtyard of the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, was so packed that I couldn\u2019t even find any of them! So, when I got home, I grilled the half-Croat Mr. X, and when he did not know as much about his father\u2019s homeland as I would have liked, I stayed up all night researching the topic for myself.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been fascinated about lightly-inhabited islands for a few decades now, ever since I learned of the crazy Pitcairn in the Pacific Ocean, so The Eighth Commissioner<\/em> is right up my alley. It\u2019s a really excellent film, and showcases just some of the beauty of Croatia. If the two hours had been filled with just<\/em> visuals, I would have been equally enthralled.<\/p>\n The music before the film. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n I\u2019m sure that many guests that night would have been more than happy to enlighten me about their country. Before the movie began, a pianist and a duo of vocalists (joined by a group of people who appeared out of nowhere) performed some songs, and just about everyone in the audience sang along! The one that brought the woman next to me to tears is called Majko<\/em> (which means \u201cmother.\u201d) She explained that it was made famous by the country\u2019s beloved singer, Oliver Dragojevic, who had just died this summer. I totally understood all of the emotion pouring out of the crowd.<\/p>\n The film really whetted my appetite to visit Croatia and discover its beauty for myself. Now that I can travel more, I hope there will be a press junket in the not too distant future.<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_4822.jpg\")
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