Marijana, a 24-year-old hospital worker, lives in a tiny, overcrowded apartment with her domineering father (Lazo), overbearing mother (Vera), and mentally disabled brother (Zoran).
The coastal city of Šibenik, Croatia, during a hot, sticky summer.
The family's hierarchy is upended when Lazo, the authoritarian patriarch, suffers a severe stroke that leaves him bedridden and invalid.
The film was highly acclaimed in the international festival circuit for its raw realism and Petričević’s performance. Quit Staring at My Plate (2016)
Driven to the edge by her family's demands, Marijana begins exploring her own desires through casual sexual encounters with strangers, testing the limits of her independence. Core Information Title: Ne gledaj mi u pijat ( Quit Staring at My Plate ). Release Year: 2016. Runtime: 105 minutes. Director/Writer: Hana Jušić (Feature debut). Cinematography: Jana Plećaš. Key Cast: Mia Petričević as Marijana. Zlatko Burić as Lazo. Arijana Čulina as Vera. Nikša Butijer as Zoran. Critical Reception & Awards
(international title: Quit Staring at My Plate ) is a 2016 Croatian-Danish drama film written and directed by Hana Jušić. The film is a gritty coming-of-age story that explores dysfunctional family dynamics and a young woman's search for autonomy in a claustrophobic environment. Plot Overview
Marijana becomes the sole breadwinner and head of the household. While the burden of responsibility increases, the absence of her father's direct control offers her a newfound, albeit confusing, sense of freedom.