Dušan Makavejev Mak – Black Wave Director
Dušan Makavejev, known as Mak, is one of the greatest Yugoslav directors and screenwriters, a prominent figure in the world of film art and a member of the Black Wave movement, making him one of the most significant figures in the local cinematography.
He was born on October 13, 1932, in Belgrade. His parents were Sergije Makavejev and Jelka (née Bojkić), the first female veterinarian in Yugoslavia. He graduated in psychology and film directing and is one of the two recipients of an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade (the other being Miodrag Tabački).
Makavejev was a founding figure of the Black Wave in Yugoslav cinema, using his works to criticize both communist and capitalist societies. His films exude sensuality and youthfulness, including “Parada” (1962), “Man Is Not a Bird” (1965), “Love Affair, or the Case of the Missing Switchboard Operator” (1967), “Innocence Unprotected” (1968), “WR: Mysteries of the Organism” (1971), “I Miss Sonja Henie” (1972), “Sweet Movie” (1973), and “Gorilla Bathes at Noon” (1993).
Being a supporter and a profound connoisseur of the works of psychologist Wilhelm Reich, he often incorporated Reich’s teachings into his films. His film “WR: Mysteries of the Organism” (1971) is, in fact, a homage to this revolutionary and psychologist.
Makavejev served as the editor of several magazines, including Student, Književne novine, and Danas. He also wrote for numerous publications and played a significant role in the student demonstrations of 1968.
He received numerous domestic and international awards, such as the October Award of Belgrade, the Silver Bear in Berlin, the Silver Arena in Pula, the Luis Buñuel Prize in Cannes, the Silver Hugo in Chicago, the Golden Age of the Royal Belgian Cinematheque, and the “Film Legend” award from the Southeast European Film Festival based in Paris.
Several books have been written about Dušan Makavejev’s body of work, and Raša Popov dedicated a poem to his talent.
He passed away at the age of 86 on January 25, 2019, in Belgrade.
