Tutoring (2019)

The premiere for the movie Tutoring, written and directed by Ivana-Goran vitez (who's pretty much a total unknown on this subforum), just went down tonight in Los Angeles.

You can find more details about the flick over on imdb, and you can also check out a review from Jurica Pavičić—which, honestly, isn't exactly glowing.

I don't really see eye-to-eye with Pavičić on most things, though I'll admit he's got a point about a few things: the plot is complicated (and at times feels a bit hard to swallow). But for me, the movie is funny enough that I didn't mind. It’s got some genuinely clever jokes in there—smart humor, mind you—aside from that one mandatory, totally crude joke that seems to be required in every American indie production ever made. The ending was unexpected, but it worked for me.

Right at the start, during those first ten minutes or so, we see something that's actually pretty familiar to us folks here: Reddit 😬 Okay, you can't see the URL bar, but the interface looks exactly like the kind of old-school layout you only see on certain niche sites anymore. A few of us in the theater caught it and started laughing like true Redditors 😬

The acting was solid across the board, from the big names everyone knows to actors I've never even heard of before. Königsknecht was great, as expected, and Janko Popović-Volarić was surprisingly good too... Beader felt a little wooden to me, though. Janeš’s little bits (especially that hair!) and especially Ivica Zadar were hilarious. Marina Kostelac as the mom and Anita Matić Delić as the teacher—both actresses I haven't really followed until now—were also really strong. Vilim Matula was a great supporting presence 😬

Anyway, for an American indie film, it was pretty fun 👍

Jose Miller3 said:The premiere for the movie Tutoring, written and directed by Ivana-Goran vitez (who's pretty much a total unknown on this subforum), just went down tonight in Los Angeles.

You can find more details about the flick over on imdb, and you can also check out a review from Jurica Pavičić—which, honestly, isn't exactly glowing.

I don't really see eye-to-eye with Pavičić on most things, though I'll admit he's got a point about a few things: the plot is complicated (and at times feels a bit hard to swallow). But for me, the movie is funny enough that I didn't mind. It’s got some genuinely clever jokes in there—smart humor, mind you—aside from that one mandatory, totally crude joke that seems to be required in every American indie production ever made. The ending was unexpected, but it worked for me.

Right at the start, during those first ten minutes or so, we see something that's actually pretty familiar to us folks here: Reddit 😬 Okay, you can't see the URL bar, but the interface looks exactly like the kind of old-school layout you only see on certain niche sites anymore. A few of us in the theater caught it and started laughing like true Redditors 😬

The acting was solid across the board, from the big names everyone knows to actors I've never even heard of before. Königsknecht was great, as expected, and Janko Popović-Volarić was surprisingly good too... Beader felt a little wooden to me, though. Janeš’s little bits (especially that hair!) and especially Ivica Zadar were hilarious. Marina Kostelac as the mom and Anita Matić Delić as the teacher—both actresses I haven't really followed until now—were also really strong. Vilim Matula was a great supporting presence 😬

Anyway, for an American indie film, it was pretty fun 👍

preslatko zaletjeti 😍

I'm heading to the theater soon—not expecting anything groundbreaking, but I'm definitely looking forward to it!

Hey Jose Miller3, why couldn't you dig up some other review? 😬 Jurica Pavičić has been covering this movie on K for ages.
Anyway, tutoring is always a solid bet. 🙂
I absolutely love the dynamic between the thief and the henchman. 😍 Ken and Janko Popović-Volarić make a killer duo. In the forest, Ken is basically a god. Honestly, it’s refreshing to see actors who don't feel forced; Anita Matić Delić was her usual stellar self, and Zuhra was great too. Even Beader was actually tolerable, which is saying something. All those little sketches have become such a signature move now—it’s great when the regulars, who usually just go through the motions, actually bring some real grit to a scene. Speaking of which—Janeš and Ivica Zadar are total lunatics. 😬
Still, I can't help feeling bad that Paleshev didn't get even thirty seconds more screen time. 🤣 The dialogue is sharp, the cinematography is stunning, the music is cool... nothing feels out of place; everything is perfectly blended. I don't know... enough from me. 😬

If anyone's planning to go, stay until the very end. That dedication at the credits actually brought a tear to my eye. 🙂

Paul Mendoza8 said:Hey Jose Miller3, why couldn't you dig up some other review? 😬 Jurica Pavičić has been covering this movie on K for ages.
Anyway, tutoring is always a solid bet. 🙂
I absolutely love the dynamic between the thief and the henchman. 😍 Ken and Janko Popović-Volarić make a killer duo. In the forest, Ken is basically a god. Honestly, it’s refreshing to see actors who don't feel forced; Anita Matić Delić was her usual stellar self, and Zuhra was great too. Even Beader was actually tolerable, which is saying something. All those little sketches have become such a signature move now—it’s great when the regulars, who usually just go through the motions, actually bring some real grit to a scene. Speaking of which—Janeš and Ivica Zadar are total lunatics. 😬
Still, I can't help feeling bad that Paleshev didn't get even thirty seconds more screen time. 🤣 The dialogue is sharp, the cinematography is stunning, the music is cool... nothing feels out of place; everything is perfectly blended. I don't know... enough from me. 😬

If anyone's planning to go, stay until the very end. That dedication at the credits actually brought a tear to my eye. 🙂

Given that he basically fabricated an entire son out of thin air, can we even be certain that Jurica Pavičić actually sat down and watched the film? To me, this whole thing reeks of nothing more than petty internal drama.
Anyway, this feels like a slightly better recommendation than anything from Jurica Pavičić. 👍

Paul Mendoza8 said:Hey Jose Miller3, why couldn't you dig up some other review? 😬 Jurica Pavičić has been covering this movie on K for ages.
Anyway, tutoring is always a solid bet. 🙂
I absolutely love the dynamic between the thief and the henchman. 😍 Ken and Janko Popović-Volarić make a killer duo. In the forest, Ken is basically a god. Honestly, it’s refreshing to see actors who don't feel forced; Anita Matić Delić was her usual stellar self, and Zuhra was great too. Even Beader was actually tolerable, which is saying something. All those little sketches have become such a signature move now—it’s great when the regulars, who usually just go through the motions, actually bring some real grit to a scene. Speaking of which—Janeš and Ivica Zadar are total lunatics. 😬
Still, I can't help feeling bad that Paleshev didn't get even thirty seconds more screen time. 🤣 The dialogue is sharp, the cinematography is stunning, the music is cool... nothing feels out of place; everything is perfectly blended. I don't know... enough from me. 😬

If anyone's planning to go, stay until the very end. That dedication at the credits actually brought a tear to my eye. 🙂

We'll take a look.

Hopefully this washes away that bitter aftertaste from the last attempt. I've got pretty high expectations again! 🍿

Honestly, I wasn't totally let down, but it just didn't hit the heights of Forest. It feels more like Liljan. I love how Vitez brings his own unique vibe to the table—you can always tell when it's one of his films. The acting was top-tier, though. Seriously, everyone killed it; there’s no debating that. Even my buddy showed he hasn't lost his touch on the basketball court. But man, the pacing gets dark early on and then just kind of drags in the middle. It’s the same issue we saw with Liljan. It picks up toward the end, but it really lacks those heavy-hitting scenes in the center to keep you hooked. You can feel it. Some people were nodding off or just getting annoyed and walking out of the theater. Whatever, a solid three-pointer for me.🍿

I just finished watching the film, and honestly, the technical execution was pretty flawless, as per usual.

Now, I’m not going to drone on about what everyone else has already pointed out regarding the way it partially deconstructs genre conventions—though, if you ask me, this feels like a much purer genre piece than the previous two—because there isn't much point in repeating old news.
What actually fascinates me is the motivation behind this specific directorial approach: this drive to dismantle his own inner misanthropy, which, through the actual narrative, ends up championing and provoking a sense of humanism instead. The villains, who in the director's view seem to exist in every corner of society—especially those holding positions of formal power and influence—are ultimately exposed as nothing more than clowns and fools. By stripping them down to their true essence, he robs them of their perceived authority, and from the perspective of someone in control, that strikes me as the ultimate heresy. This is exactly why I want Ivana-Goran vitez to keep making movies.

Daniel Kelly57 said:Honestly, I wasn't totally let down, but it just didn't hit the heights of Forest. It feels more like Liljan. I love how Vitez brings his own unique vibe to the table—you can always tell when it's one of his films. The acting was top-tier, though. Seriously, everyone killed it; there’s no debating that. Even my buddy showed he hasn't lost his touch on the basketball court. But man, the pacing gets dark early on and then just kind of drags in the middle. It’s the same issue we saw with Liljan. It picks up toward the end, but it really lacks those heavy-hitting scenes in the center to keep you hooked. You can feel it. Some people were nodding off or just getting annoyed and walking out of the theater. Whatever, a solid three-pointer for me.🍿

Ugh, I don't know... this whole thing feels totally inconsistent compared to my own take. The beginning and the end? Yeah, those hit the mark—actually, they’re great. But that middle section... man, that part was just masterful.

WARNING: Potential spoilers ahead...

Look, I’ve seen everything vitez has put out so far—and honestly, I’ve loved just about all of it—but I really didn't see this one hitting me quite this hard. I mean, I wasn't expecting to be this blown away... There were so many ridiculous, laugh-out-loud moments, you know? Just those wild, totally unpredictable plot twists and resolutions that catch you completely off guard. But then... there were times where I actually shed a tear. Actually, let's be real, I was practically sobbing... 😁...when that little girl gave her dad a hug (I'm a father whose wife is walking out on us, so I guess that’s why the main story hit me right in the gut)...
That scene where the dad and the teacher get into that whole dialogue—or maybe it was more of a monologue, honestly—is hands down the highlight of the movie for me. I’ve seriously never seen anything quite like it on screen before... It might be some high-brow stylistic choice that seasoned cinephiles all over the country swear by, but I don't know about all that. I think I'm actually going back to the theater just to try and wrap my head around it properly...😛

Hats off to Vitez... I spent the entire movie just sitting there wondering if someone actually managed to film something this high-caliber right here in America. Seriously, massive respect...

It’s this wild mix of drama and tragicomedy that somehow flips into full-on farce at times, even though it’s technically labeled a thriller.

The shift feels a bit illogical to me, but honestly? I can see it as the director using that tonal jump to make a point about the themes he's tackling. There’s just so much going on here: it kicks off with social issues, then spirals into political power plays, and eventually ties in media influence and how government agencies actually function.

But hey, that was pretty much expected. Vitez always dives into what's happening in society and the country right now, so he sprinkles in all those satirical touches alongside his main vision—though I have to say, this is definitely his most serious film yet. You catch those moments in the dialogue, the weird situations, and even just in how some of the characters are built.

Overall, I really liked the movie, but I’ll be real... I got a little lost toward the end. I couldn't quite wrap my head around why that cop did what he did once he entered the school, or any of the fallout from that. 🤔

Still, there are some genuinely hilarious bits in there, and it brings a refreshing sense of originality compared to other recent American films. 👍

It looks like even the editors at the Morning Post finally realized Jurica Pavičić hadn't actually watched the film, so they went ahead and assigned someone else to handle the critique.

Jamie Davis9 said:It looks like even the editors at the Morning Post finally realized Jurica Pavičić hadn't actually watched the film, so they went ahead and assigned someone else to handle the critique.

Maybe it’d be better if this critic didn't spend basically the whole movie describing every single shot.🍿

Any idea how long this movie is going to be playing in theaters? I’m tied up and can't make it to the cinema this week, but I definitely don't want to miss out on seeing it.

ruggedjackal46 said:Any idea how long this movie is going to be playing in theaters? I’m tied up and can't make it to the cinema this week, but I definitely don't want to miss out on seeing it.

It'll probably be out for at least another two weeks. At least, that's my guess. 🍿

Facebook post: "With this turnout [1742 viewers, per Gregory Lewis3], the movie is being pulled from most theaters next week. In the few remaining locations, there will only be one early morning or late-night screening daily, so we recommend catching it while you still can if you were planning to go."
Anyway, looks like our buddy here tripped over a factual error. He claims: "The young cop Ozren (Marko Cindrić) is personally invested in resolving the school drama ASAP because his wife is pregnant, and his son (another very solid little newcomer—Franko Pavičić) is in the same class as Ana, whose father is currently bullying the kids." But wasn't it actually SPOILER ALERT revealed at the end that the cop's son—that little kid played by F. P.—is just some total provocateur, and his dad turns out to be a cop, then a firefighter, then the Governor? 😬
Generally speaking, my high expectations weren't really let down. It definitely landed the laughs; there are a few genuinely hilarious bits (including that completely insane "internal" nonsense involving the checkers set [🙏 🙏 🙏, seriously, is anyone even allowed to film stuff like that with kids nowadays? 😬]), but I didn't actually expect it to hit those touching notes so effectively. That’s probably because of that unfortunate tendency to make you feel for characters you shouldn't (where are you now, Joker fans?), and more importantly, because of the overall vibe of "*damn, this misery and struggle is basically us."

ruggedjackal46 said:Any idea how long this movie is going to be playing in theaters? I’m tied up and can't make it to the cinema this week, but I definitely don't want to miss out on seeing it.

I’d bet a ton of cash if I had caught even a tiny glimpse of you at the premiere... 😲

UPS. Honestly, maybe I just mixed you up with someone else—it’s been over 10 years since we last hung out in person, so you might have changed a bit more than I expected... 😬

Gregory Lewis38 said:Facebook post: "With this turnout [1742 viewers, per Gregory Lewis3], the movie is being pulled from most theaters next week. In the few remaining locations, there will only be one early morning or late-night screening daily, so we recommend catching it while you still can if you were planning to go."
Anyway, looks like our buddy here tripped over a factual error. He claims: "The young cop Ozren (Marko Cindrić) is personally invested in resolving the school drama ASAP because his wife is pregnant, and his son (another very solid little newcomer—Franko Pavičić) is in the same class as Ana, whose father is currently bullying the kids." But wasn't it actually SPOILER ALERT revealed at the end that the cop's son—that little kid played by F. P.—is just some total provocateur, and his dad turns out to be a cop, then a firefighter, then the Governor? 😬
Generally speaking, my high expectations weren't really let down. It definitely landed the laughs; there are a few genuinely hilarious bits (including that completely insane "internal" nonsense involving the checkers set [🙏 🙏 🙏, seriously, is anyone even allowed to film stuff like that with kids nowadays? 😬]), but I didn't actually expect it to hit those touching notes so effectively. That’s probably because of that unfortunate tendency to make you feel for characters you shouldn't (where are you now, Joker fans?), and more importantly, because of the overall vibe of "*damn, this misery and struggle is basically us."

One sentence was enough.
And what about Cookie? That character deserves a much bigger role. Something like an American version of *In the Loop*—police, intelligence agencies, the CIA, Mexico.

Philip Eldan worked for me. The bit with the eyes was great.
Jack in the style of Gary Walsh.
The Knight did a great job directing the actors.
Decent little movie.

Jose Miller3 said:I’d bet a ton of cash if I had caught even a tiny glimpse of you at the premiere... 😲

UPS. Honestly, maybe I just mixed you up with someone else—it’s been over 10 years since we last hung out in person, so you might have changed a bit more than I expected... 😬

I honestly think I look my best when people are only catching me out of the corner of their eye. There’s just something about that subtle, glancing view that hits different, isn't there? 😎

Oops. My bad. It’s entirely possible I just mixed you up with someone else—it’s been over ten years since we last ran into each other in person. A lot can happen in a decade, right? You probably look a little different than what I had in my head. 😬

I haven't actually changed that much, honestly. But apparently, there's some guy wandering around town who looks exactly like me. For crying out loud, does he have to be in the same zip code? 😁 So, I missed the premiere, and honestly, looking at my schedule, I probably won't even make it to the theater by next week. It’s just ridiculous. Seriously, what is the deal with the way American indie films are handled? They spend five years filming some passion project, only for it to get a handful of screenings before being pulled from theaters entirely. Does anyone actually think that works?

ruggedjackal46 said:I honestly think I look my best when people are only catching me out of the corner of their eye. There’s just something about that subtle, glancing view that hits different, isn't there? 😎

Oops. My bad. It’s entirely possible I just mixed you up with someone else—it’s been over ten years since we last ran into each other in person. A lot can happen in a decade, right? You probably look a little different than what I had in my head. 😬

I haven't actually changed that much, honestly. But apparently, there's some guy wandering around town who looks exactly like me. For crying out loud, does he have to be in the same zip code? 😁 So, I missed the premiere, and honestly, looking at my schedule, I probably won't even make it to the theater by next week. It’s just ridiculous. Seriously, what is the deal with the way American indie films are handled? They spend five years filming some passion project, only for it to get a handful of screenings before being pulled from theaters entirely. Does anyone actually think that works?

When you consider those massive foreign blockbusters where aunts and uncles in spandex suits just beat each other up in front of a green screen, what more could an American film possibly offer in theaters 🤷 .

The stars finally aligned, and I managed to snag one of the few remaining showtimes in San Francisco alongside three other lucky souls. Personally, I thought "Forest" was fantastic, while "Lily Vidić" was just okay—I'm glad the vibe leans more toward the "Forest" side of things. My take? The Knight handles the thriller genre much better than parody, especially when he uses realistic grotesque (or maybe grotesque photorealism 😬) to weave in social commentary rather than leaning too heavily on the joke.

I’m particularly fond of those sudden tonal shifts; just as the movie pivots toward comedy or melodrama, you get slapped with a reality check. My favorite moment has to be when the teacher realizes what the "specialists" are actually up to; we see her from behind as she approaches the kids, and even though we don't see her face yet, it's clear the kids have absolutely lost their minds. Those transitions into seriousness and drama are executed brilliantly. And honestly, nobody pushes the "line of good taste" quite as effectively as the Knight, which is always a win in my book.

There are certain elements that didn't quite land for me. All those macho dynamics feel incredibly predictable and stale, yet they hog so much screen time—everything from the relationship between the mayor and his subordinate to the final "showdown" between Beader and the cop, not to mention that janitor played by Clint Eastwood. Also, those strangely staged moments where characters have sudden epiphanies felt like unnecessary "in-your-face" filmmaking to me. Truth be told, the movie only starts getting genuinely interesting once it flips the predictable role assignments on their heads, but I suppose that's to be expected.

Then again, I might go back just to catch all the brilliant little Easter eggs, like the key role played by the forum 🤣, Damir Radić 🤣, or Suk in the opposition candidate's camp 🤣 🤣. I'd probably also squint at the numbers written on the classroom chalkboard to see what kind of details are hidden there. And that tribute to Gregurević was lovely, though it's a shame it happens right at the end when 75% of the audience (everyone but me) has already cleared out.

Also, I find it quite amusing how this theatrical release perfectly coincides with the teachers' strike. It’s great PR 🤣, but also feels somewhat deserved since the film itself draws so much inspiration from the very conditions driving the strike. In that sense, I’m actually relieved that the only truly positive character in the whole movie is the teacher.

It was fun and high-energy—but honestly, probably the most polished and serious Knights movie they've ever made. So glad I caught it in theaters! I found myself laughing along with the group of about 13 to 15 teenagers in the audience—it was such a blast. 😁
I honestly don't get why people were walking out—like, what exactly were they expecting? The movie wasn't even that boring; you could definitely follow the plot if you actually paid attention—plus, I got the feeling the kids in the audience actually enjoyed it.

So, overall—it’s great! The acting is top-notch, like everyone was already saying, and the whole cast just feels so high-energy. I could totally see Gregurević playing the school janitor—though honestly, Burić is absolutely stellar here too. I really loved the humor, especially those quick little bits where they chat with parents in front of the camera—you've got the professional vow theorist, the self-satisfied ŽMK whose son is actually a little troublemaker, and the rest of the crew who were clearly inspired by (i) the forum. For me, Matić Delić and Kostelac were also huge highlights.
The movie does a great job handling a huge cast and all those parallel storylines for a little while, but then—well, everything falls apart. The entire second half basically hinges on some incredibly forced, unbelievable decision made by three complete idiots. It’s frustrating because the characters that actually hooked me at the start just get totally sidelined. Suddenly, the dad and his whole "struggle"—that specific situation that kicked off the plot—don't even matter anymore. Instead, we’re stuck watching the mayor, Jack, and that annoying chief (who are just those predictable, stereotypical types you see in a dozen other movies). That arrogant kid ends up stealing the spotlight from Anna, and the mom—who I honestly thought was going to be this powerhouse who'd storm into the school for revenge, lol—just ends up being sidelined and irrelevant. As for the dad, he comes across as a total lowlife. He isn't the type to go around posting illiterate hate on forums or anything, but still—it just didn't work for me. 😁
That scene where the teacher and the dad are talking at the exact same time? Honestly, such a great moment—really captured that chaotic energy! 🙏

Amanda Robinson4 said:It’s this wild mix of drama and tragicomedy that somehow flips into full-on farce at times, even though it’s technically labeled a thriller.

The shift feels a bit illogical to me, but honestly? I can see it as the director using that tonal jump to make a point about the themes he's tackling. There’s just so much going on here: it kicks off with social issues, then spirals into political power plays, and eventually ties in media influence and how government agencies actually function.

But hey, that was pretty much expected. Vitez always dives into what's happening in society and the country right now, so he sprinkles in all those satirical touches alongside his main vision—though I have to say, this is definitely his most serious film yet. You catch those moments in the dialogue, the weird situations, and even just in how some of the characters are built.

Overall, I really liked the movie, but I’ll be real... I got a little lost toward the end. I couldn't quite wrap my head around why that cop did what he did once he entered the school, or any of the fallout from that. 🤔

Still, there are some genuinely hilarious bits in there, and it brings a refreshing sense of originality compared to other recent American films. 👍

A few things still feel a bit unfinished to me—honestly, I’m still processing it all! It felt like the movie dragged a little too much in certain spots—like that whole scene at City Hall and the long chat with the Mayor—but then other parts were just rushed through without enough detail. I didn't quite catch everyone's motivations in that one big plan, you know? It felt a little abrupt at the end—though, I have to say, Cindrić's little moment of introspection was absolutely spot on.

ruggedjackal46 said:The stars finally aligned, and I managed to snag one of the few remaining showtimes in San Francisco alongside three other lucky souls. Personally, I thought "Forest" was fantastic, while "Lily Vidić" was just okay—I'm glad the vibe leans more toward the "Forest" side of things. My take? The Knight handles the thriller genre much better than parody, especially when he uses realistic grotesque (or maybe grotesque photorealism 😬) to weave in social commentary rather than leaning too heavily on the joke.

I’m particularly fond of those sudden tonal shifts; just as the movie pivots toward comedy or melodrama, you get slapped with a reality check. My favorite moment has to be when the teacher realizes what the "specialists" are actually up to; we see her from behind as she approaches the kids, and even though we don't see her face yet, it's clear the kids have absolutely lost their minds. Those transitions into seriousness and drama are executed brilliantly. And honestly, nobody pushes the "line of good taste" quite as effectively as the Knight, which is always a win in my book.

There are certain elements that didn't quite land for me. All those macho dynamics feel incredibly predictable and stale, yet they hog so much screen time—everything from the relationship between the mayor and his subordinate to the final "showdown" between Beader and the cop, not to mention that janitor played by Clint Eastwood. Also, those strangely staged moments where characters have sudden epiphanies felt like unnecessary "in-your-face" filmmaking to me. Truth be told, the movie only starts getting genuinely interesting once it flips the predictable role assignments on their heads, but I suppose that's to be expected.

Then again, I might go back just to catch all the brilliant little Easter eggs, like the key role played by the forum 🤣, Damir Radić 🤣, or Suk in the opposition candidate's camp 🤣 🤣. I'd probably also squint at the numbers written on the classroom chalkboard to see what kind of details are hidden there. And that tribute to Gregurević was lovely, though it's a shame it happens right at the end when 75% of the audience (everyone but me) has already cleared out.

Also, I find it quite amusing how this theatrical release perfectly coincides with the teachers' strike. It’s great PR 🤣, but also feels somewhat deserved since the film itself draws so much inspiration from the very conditions driving the strike. In that sense, I’m actually relieved that the only truly positive character in the whole movie is the teacher.

And hey—just because a scene is out doesn't mean it's a "no." 😁