End of the Road

In the heart of rural countryside, Željko and Viki have dedicated their lives to providing a peaceful and dignified end to the journey of discarded horses on their small plot of land. They sacrifice everything they have to ensure that these forgotten creatures are given the compassion and empathy they deserve. "END OF THE ROAD" is a powerful and moving film that explores the themes of mortality, compassion, and dignity for all living beings. It is a call to action to extend empathy and kindness to everyone on their life journey. The film is not only about the end of the road for these horses, but it also reflects on the meaning of life and how we can make it better for all living creatures.

Empathy is the feeling I'm interested in exploring in film language. Coming from a country that fell apart due to a civil war, I'm interested in exploring ways of dealing with trauma in my films.When it comes to the point of not being of any use to a person, horses, wonderfully powerful animals, have the same destiny as humans. If there is no one to take care of us, we are left alone to die…as only care and love can give dignity to dying. Zeljko and Viki have saved, on a little piece of land, those horses that other people have rejected because they are no longer useful to them either in work or in races, and whose fate would have been to end in the slaughterhouse,In this asylum for horses, Zeljko and Viki made a safe place for horses to spend their last days. The burden with an everyday struggle for money and resources, they continue to give unselfish love to keep horses alive. That's why I decided to make this film. To spread the love and care Zeljko and Viki have for horses. For the audience to feel this act of kindness to share with the person next to them.I knew the best way was to put the audience in the shoes of horses, to get them known as characters, as people. To see horses as vulnerable creatures — to see themselves in each one. The style of the film is observational documentary films with stylized shots. We (my small crew consisting of DP, sound man, editor, and director) lived in the asylum to have a raw feeling of life. We shot film with a Sony 7 camera. We would watch dailies with the editor each night and figure out the next day's filming. In the editing room, we realized we needed music in the film to underscore the strong emotional attachment to each horse. The film will, I hope, bring a message of empathy for all living beings. I think everyone will be able to find their own share of the relationship with both the animals and with Zeljko and Viki. This film is an ode to their love for horses, certainly, and our love for each other, ultimately.