The film “In the Jaws of Life” (original title: U raljama života), directed by Rajko Grlić in 1984, is based on the novel “Štefica Cvek in the Jaws of Life” by Dubravka Ugrešić. It tells the story of a middle-aged female director with a complicated emotional life who is filming a soap opera.
Among the iconic lines from the film that are still quoted today, one notable scene features the character Trokrilni (Bata Živojinović) repeatedly telling Štefica Cvek (Vitomira Lončar), “Now I’m going to fuck you.” According to Vitomira Lončar, this scene was filmed for two days, and she and Bata Živojinović never socialized afterward, even avoiding sitting at the same table at festivals where the film was screened.
This film was the most-watched movie of the year in Yugoslavia, winning numerous awards, including the “Golden Arena” for direction and music. The film was notable for its sharp and effective satire on the state of Yugoslavia at the time, as well as for breaking various taboos, such as the mention of the abuse at the Goli Otok prison, as well as interethnic relations, including mockery of ethnic stereotypes about Serbs and Croats.
