Superman, that eternal hero in a cape, has never been just a simple comic book character. Director James Gunn’s new film throws us right into the political ring, where the hero faces off against the main villain Lex Luthor, who, believe it or not, resembles none other than Elon Musk! Yes, you read that right – billionaire, innovator, controversial businessman, now a movie villain!
Ivan Karl, director of the Serbian Film Center, openly shares his excitement and concern. This film isn’t just action and special effects; it’s a full-on political metaphor. Superman here isn’t just an American hero but a universal cop acting outside American politics, trying to stop one country’s invasion of another. But which country? The film can’t say directly, so it chose a fictional country called Boravia, reminiscent of a former Soviet republic. A clear nod to current conflicts – Russia and Ukraine, or Israel and Gaza.
Actor Zlatko Burić, speaking in the old Serbo-Croatian language, adds another layer to this metaphor. This isn’t just a superhero movie; it’s about complex international relations, justice, and politics.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in the film world. While movies like Superman try to be politically engaged, audiences in America are dropping off. People have gotten lazy; films come straight to streaming platforms, and theaters are emptying. Movies like “Beverly Hills Cop 4” end up on Netflix instead of the big screen.
In Serbia, the situation isn’t much better. The average audience per film is about a thousand, far from the golden days of Yugoslav cinema when hits like “Tesna Koža” drew two million viewers. Even “Zona Zamfirova” and “Toma” reached about a million viewers, but those are rare exceptions.
The Palić Festival, which was supposed to open with a new film by Milorad Milinković, faces continuity and organizational challenges. Ivan Karl warns that skipping the festival this year would be catastrophic, and recovery would take a long time.
All in all, Superman isn’t just a story about good versus evil. It’s a mirror of today’s world, where power, politics, and media intertwine, and heroes and villains aren’t always what they seem. So, what do you think – is Lex Luthor really Elon Musk in disguise? Or just another movie story? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s the real hero and who’s the villain here!
