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When Father Was Away on Business

1985Movie2 h 16 min

Drama
89
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.7Letterboxd3.8/5Rotten Tomatoes100%91%

A profoundly sad, moving drama movie about family and society, with standout characters.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

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Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

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Not for laughs, comfort or warmth.

Movies with

Story

In a post-WWII Yugoslavia still under Stalinist rule in the 1950s, six-year-old Malik is oblivious as to why his father, Mehmed, has suddenly disappeared. In truth, Mehmed has been sent to a labor camp as punishment for acts of sexual indiscretion involving young girls. Malik's mother, Senija, however, has no answers, and the family must cope in the father's absence.

Feels like

  • Yugoslav Cinema
  • Political Drama
  • Family Separation
  • Historical Context
  • Melancholy Tone
  • Social Commentary
  • Slow Burn
  • Character-Driven
  • Intrigue

Cast

13 of 13

Crew

Directed by
Emir Kusturica
Written by
Abdulah Sidran
Produced by
Mirza Pašić
Music by
Zoran Simjanović

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 15, 1985 · 2 h 16 min · Drama

Released
January 15, 1985
Runtime
2 h 16 min
Genres
Drama
Original language
Serbian (Latin)
Made in
Serbia
Available in
6 countries

Tropes

Coat Full of Contraband, Sleepwalking, Primal Scene +9

  • Coat Full of Contraband
  • Sleepwalking
  • Primal Scene
  • Narrator
  • As You Know
  • The Mistress
  • Cat Fight
  • Slice of Life
  • Aside Glance
  • State Sec
  • Obnoxious In-Laws
  • Footsie Under the Table

12 of 20 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream When Father Was Away on Business?"

Questions about When Father Was Away on Business

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream When Father Was Away on Business?

It streams in 6 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is When Father Was Away on Business worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89 (IMDb 7.7, Letterboxd 3.8 out of 5, and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). Critics rate it higher (100 out of 100) than audiences (81).

Is When Father Was Away on Business okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is When Father Was Away on Business plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is When Father Was Away on Business in English?

Serbian (Latin)

No, it was made in Serbian (Latin).

What tropes does When Father Was Away on Business use?

Coat Full of ContrabandSleepwalkingPrimal SceneNarratorAs You KnowThe MistressCat FightSlice of LifeAside GlanceState SecObnoxious In-LawsFootsie Under the Tableand 8 more

TV Tropes lists 20 tropes for it, including Coat Full of Contraband, Sleepwalking, and Primal Scene.