Sandbag Dam

In a small Croatian village threatened by rising floodwaters, old wounds and forbidden feelings begin to surface when Slaven returns home for his father's funeral. Years earlier, Slaven was forced to leave his family behind after his relationship with his childhood friend Marko was discovered. Marko was the love of his teenage years - a young athlete with whom Slaven shared a deep and secret connection. Their relationship not only challenged the expectations of their conservative community, but ultimately became the reason Slaven's father rejected him and drove him away. Now, years later, Slaven is back. His return brings him face-to-face with Marko, who has remained in the village and built a life of his own. Despite the passage of time and everything that happened between them, the feelings they once tried to suppress quickly return. What begins as an uneasy reunion gradually develops into a rekindled romance, forcing both men to confront the choices that separated them and the possibility of a future together. But their relationship exists within a community where acceptance cannot be taken for granted. Family expectations, social pressure and the memory of past rejection continue to stand between them. As the river surrounding the village continues to rise, the physical threat of flooding mirrors the emotional pressure building around the two young men. For Marko, choosing Slaven means confronting the possibility of losing the life and relationships he has known. For Slaven, returning home means confronting the painful memories that caused him to leave in the first place. Together, they must decide whether their love is strong enough to withstand the forces determined to keep them apart. Against the atmospheric backdrop of a village on the brink of disaster, Sandbag Dam is an intimate story about first love, family rejection, courage and the universal desire to be accepted for who you are. Directed by ?ejen ?erni? ?anak and written by Tomislav Zajec, the film explores the consequences of social intolerance while remaining firmly centred on the emotional connection between its two young protagonists. ?erni? ?anak has described the story as being about gay love, but also about any love that is misunderstood, condemned or ostracised. Starring Lav Novosel as Marko and Andrija ?unac as Slaven, Sandbag Dam is a powerful contemporary European drama about two people attempting to reclaim a love that was taken from them. Premiering at the Berlin International Film Festival, the film was selected for the Generation 14plus programme and also competed for the prestigious Teddy Award, placing it firmly within the international LGBTQIA+ cinema landscape. When the waters rise and the past comes flooding back, they must decide what - and who - they are willing to fight for.