Desire Lines (2025) by Dane Komljen: A Disjointed Quest for Identity and Connection

Short Summary: Lost in Liminal Spaces

A man's mysterious journey through urban and natural landscapes reveals a disembodied existence. A man named Branko, seemingly disconnected from the world, follows his brother through the nightly streets of Belgrade. As he journeys further, a profound sense of isolation takes over, leading him to realize he might be more of an observer than a participant in his own life. His quest to understand his brother becomes a surreal, slow-paced exploration of his own unreality, culminating in his discovery by a small, nature-focused commune. The film is a contemplative and enigmatic piece that blurs the lines between reality, memory, and a possible afterlife.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33303433/

Link Review: https://icsfilm.org/festivals/locarno/2025-locarno/locarno-2025-review-desire-lines-dane-komljen/

About movie: https://squareeyesfilm.com/features/desire-lines/

Link to watch: (industry professionals): https://pro.festivalscope.com/film/desire-lines-1

Detailed Summary: An Associative Odyssey

A slow-burn exploration of a man's detachment and a search for meaning.

• The film opens with Branko, a middle-aged man, trailing his brother through the urban landscapes of Belgrade, including train stations and shopping malls.

• Branko's interactions with the world are minimal; he only communicates with people through phone calls, and a security camera sequence suggests he may not be physically present.

• He leaves the city behind and embarks on a long, slow walk through diverse environments—from forests to mountain landscapes—until he collapses.

• He is found by a small, secluded commune of strangers who live in harmony with nature, and his journey becomes intertwined with their collective existence.

• The narrative is non-linear and eschews traditional storytelling, instead relying on visual and auditory cues to convey a sense of transience and mystery. The meaning of Branko's journey, his relationship with his brother, and the nature of his existence are left open to interpretation.

Director's Vision: The Logic of Dreams

A deliberate departure from conventional narrative to explore profound themes.

• Komljen, a celebrated voice in Balkan cinema, approaches filmmaking as an "assured piece of associative cinema," deliberately avoiding a strict narrative.

• He uses a dominant sound design that alternates between unsettling and soothing to create a strong sensory experience for the viewer.

• The film's use of concrete structures and landscapes that are being reclaimed by nature adds to its thematic ideas, creating a strong sense of tactility.

• The director leaves the meaning of the film open-ended, inviting the audience to engage with the work on an interpretive and emotional level rather than a logical one.

Themes: Trauma, Transcendence, and the Past

An enigmatic tapestry of human existence, memory, and nature.

• The Transience of Human Existence: The film explores the idea of being disconnected from the world, both literally and metaphorically. Branko's journey suggests a liminal state, where he is not fully alive or dead, but in a space of transition.

• Symbiosis Between Man and Nature: The film contrasts the urban decay of Belgrade with the idyllic, untamed nature of the commune's setting. The characters' deep connection to their surroundings suggests a potential for harmony and healing.

• Trauma of the Balkan Wars: The recurrence of military motifs and abandoned structures hints at the lasting psychological trauma of the Balkan conflicts, with the overgrown concrete serving as a physical metaphor for a scarred past.

• Memory and Unreality: The film suggests that memory is unreliable and the past may exist alongside the present. This is evidenced by the cryptic phone calls and strange encounters that Branko experiences.

Key Success Factors: A Masterpiece of Mood

Its enigmatic approach and powerful atmosphere make for a unique cinematic experience.

• Unique Tone and Contemplative Approach: The film's slow, meditative pace and ambiguous plot will appeal to cinephiles and art-house audiences looking for a thought-provoking experience.

• Strong Technical Craft: Critics praise the film's strong technical elements, particularly its sound design and cinematography, which are essential in creating the film's immersive atmosphere.

• Open-Ended Interpretation: The film's refusal to provide easy answers makes it a powerful work to be discussed and debated, inviting multiple viewings and interpretations.

• Authentic Voice: As a filmmaker from the Balkans, Dane Komljen brings an authentic perspective to the post-war trauma and identity issues explored in the film.

Awards and Nominations: A Festival Darling

A critically acclaimed film that has received attention on the festival circuit. While a complete list of awards is not yet available, the film has been noted for its presence at the Locarno Film Festival. It has received a great deal of positive attention from critics and is a strong contender for various awards due to its unique style and thematic depth.

Critics Reception: A Polarizing but Profound Film

A film praised for its artistry but criticized for its ambiguity.

• International Cinephile Society: Praises the film as an "assured piece of associative cinema" and "a surefire masterpiece" for those who are attuned to its unique tone. It highlights the film's open interpretation and its thematic richness.

• Film-Book: Notes the film's "fascinating ideas" while also pointing out that they "aren't really concrete in their final execution." The review recognizes the strong performance by Ivan Čuić but finds the film's lack of a clear narrative challenging.

• Cineuropa: Describes the film as "enigmatic" and a "fool's errand" to interpret, yet commends Komljen for tackling complex topics such as trauma, the uncertainty of identity, and the unreliability of memory.

Overall Summary: The critical reception is mixed but leans positive, with most reviewers acknowledging the film's artistic merit while also recognizing its challenging and ambiguous nature. Those who appreciate experimental, non-narrative cinema are likely to find it a masterpiece, while those seeking a more conventional story may be left wanting. The consensus is that it is a film that will be talked about and analyzed long after its initial viewing.

Reviews: A Hybrid of Admiration and Confusion

A cinematic experience that is both mesmerizing and difficult to grasp.

• The Movie Buff: Acknowledges the film as a "thought-provoking advocacy piece" but also notes its "deconstructive" nature. The review appreciates the film's unconventional structure and its ability to spark discourse on social issues.

• In Review Online: Finds the film "hybrid" and notes that it "understands the themes it wants to address, but struggles to find the formal means." The review critiques the film's narrative thread, calling it convoluted, but praises its central argument for the importance of archiving trans experiences.

• The Lies They Tell: A more critical review that finds the film "colour-by-numbers" and a "chorus" that lacks individual voices. The reviewer questions the film's structure and the lack of in-depth exploration of its central themes, particularly regarding the interview subjects.

Overall Summary: Reviews for Desire Lines are varied. Some laud its unique form and deep thematic content, while others find its experimental nature and fragmented narrative to be a weakness. The film's ability to create a dialogue about its subjects is consistently noted, even by those who are critical of its execution.

Theatrical Release: A Festival Circuit Debut

The film has been a prominent feature at international film festivals. Desire Lines premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and has since been shown at other major festivals, including the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.

Why to Watch This Movie: A Cinematic Puzzle

A must-see for those who seek a film that challenges and provokes.

• For the Mindful Viewer: If you enjoy films that don't hold your hand and instead invite you to piece together meaning, this is the movie for you. It's a cinematic puzzle that rewards contemplation.

• A Unique Visual and Auditory Experience: The film's exceptional sound design and atmospheric cinematography create a truly immersive and sensorial experience that stands out from mainstream cinema.

• Exploration of Complex Themes: The film delves into profound topics such as identity, memory, trauma, and the connection between humanity and nature, offering a rich tapestry of ideas to consider.

Movie Trend: Hybrid Documentary

The film follows the trend of "hybrid documentaries," blending narrative fiction with documentary elements. This trend involves combining different filmmaking styles, such as traditional storytelling, found footage, and interviews, to create a more dynamic and multi-layered viewing experience. Desire Lines uses this approach to explore its themes in a non-linear and associative way.

Social Trend: Questioning Identity and Belonging

The film taps into the modern social trend of exploring fluid identities and finding community in unconventional ways. The film's focus on a character who feels disembodied and disconnected from society, and who finds a sense of belonging in a commune, reflects a broader societal trend of individuals seeking out alternative forms of community and belonging outside of traditional structures. It also touches on themes of intergenerational dialogue and the re-examination of history.

Final Verdict: An Ambitious and Unforgettable Work

A powerful and challenging film that is a masterclass in mood and atmosphere. Desire Lines is not a film for everyone. It is slow, deeply ambiguous, and deliberately avoids a conventional narrative arc. However, for those willing to engage with its aural and visual poetry, it offers a profoundly rewarding and unforgettable experience. The film's strength lies in its ability to evoke a powerful sense of mood and mystery, making it a unique and important piece of contemporary cinema. It’s an art-house triumph that demands interpretation and rewards repeated viewings.