by Adem Tutić
University of Arts in Belgrade, Faculty of Dramatic Arts, Serbia
Tarik is a poignant and human portrayal of a teenager’s loneliness amid the collapse of family bonds and social inequality, as he searches for a safe place to belong. After being expelled from school, he decides to live with his father — but his stepmother refuses to accept him, and his father withdraws from taking responsibility. From the very beginning, the film introduces us to the inner world of a boy on the verge of adolescence who experiences rejection in its deepest sense.
In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, the pain of this teenager is captured with great subtlety: Tarik, sitting in a car, repeatedly bangs his head against the window — an action that conveys not anger, but helplessness and silent despair. The brilliant performance of the young actor blurs the line between acting and reality, allowing the audience to feel the rawness of his suffering.
The film’s precise framing, carefully composed mise-en-scène, and intelligent use of focus and defocus help the director shape Tarik’s emotional and psychological world, elevating the film from a simple narrative to an immersive, sensory experience.
After being expelled from school in Lazarevac, Tarik is forced to leave his single mother, Marija, and move to Novi Pazar to live with his father, Safet, and his family.
Director: Adem Tutić
Screenplay: Mario Nikolić, Adem Tutić
Cinematography: Filip Tasić
Editing: Branka Pavlović
Music: Fikret Mekić, Haris Šećerović
Original title: Tarik
Running time: 27'
Film type: Fiction
Country: Serbia
Completion date: February 2025