WR· Mysteries of the Organism
WR· Mysteries of the Organism is a Yugoslav film directed by Dušan Makavejev, belonging to the works of the Black Wave movement. Although it was filmed in 1971, it had to wait for 15 years for its first screening.
It was shot on locations in the United States and Yugoslavia from 1968 to 1971. The part filmed in the U.S. is documentary in nature and explores the fate of Wilhelm Reich, a student of Freud, whose books were declared illegal by a decision of the U.S. Federal Court in 1954 and burned in the presence of officials. Among other things, the film addresses the issues of the red bourgeoisie and sex. The anthem for the film was written and performed by Bulat Okudzhava.
The film was presented to the censorship board in 1971, and on that occasion, Dušan Makavejev stated: “I do not want foreigners to present my film as a film banned by Yugoslav censorship. As an author, I am ready to take responsibility: artistic, social, and political.”
Censorship approved the public screening of the film during that occasion, and the Republic Commission for Film Review of SR Serbia issued a Decision on granting approval for public screening on May 10, 1971.
However, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of SR Serbia sent a letter to the Republic Commission for Film Review, in which the public prosecutor suspended the execution, thereby banning the public screening of the film.
WR· Mysteries of the Organism was publicly screened for the first time in Yugoslavia in 1986, when the ban from 1971 was lifted.
The plot follows a young and beautiful cosmetician who falls in love with the world champion in artistic ice skating, losing both her consciousness and head in her infatuation, both figuratively and literally. The film is a blend of dark comedy with science fiction grotesque, incorporating elements of pop quiz, documentary, political circus, and philosophical essay.
The film received the Luis Buñuel Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1971.
Starring: Milena Dravić, Ivica Vidović, Jagoda Kaloper, Zoran Radmilović…
