Do you remember Dolly Bell? – Kusturica’s First Film

It was the first feature film directed by Emir Kusturica, released in 1981, with a screenplay written by Abdulah Sidran.

The story is set during the summer of 1963 in Sarajevo. The main character, a boy named Dino, discovers the world and grows up through the movies he watches at the local cinema and the music he listens to at the youth center. He experiences his first love by falling for the prostitute Dolly Bell, whom he is asked to hide by her pimp.

The film starred Slavko Štimac, Ljiljana Blagojević, Slobodan Aligrudić, Mira Banjac, Pavle Vuisić, Boro Stjepanović, Nataša Pani, Saša Zurovac, and others.

The film was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1981. Slobodan Aligrudić received the Car Konstantin Award at the Film Encounters in Niš for his role as the father.

The movie is also remembered for the quote: “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.”