Metastases

The story unfolds in 1999, a post-war Croatia where veterans and young adults navigate unemployment, addiction, and violence. The period captures a late-90s urban milieu in Zagreb, a time of social tension and economic strain. The characters’ actions reflect the era’s uncertainties and the lingering shadows of the Croatian War of Independence.

Set in a working-class Zagreb neighbourhood, the film portrays post-war urban life through four friends who are football fans and Dinamo Zagreb supporters. The city serves as a raw backdrop for their volatile dynamics, bar culture, and everyday struggles. The urban spaces—bars, betting shops, and streets—anchor the story in contemporary Croatia.

💥 Violence

The film builds a world where aggression is a daily currency, with Krpa’s abusive behavior and the broader street culture of hooliganism shaping the group’s dynamics. The violence is both physical and psychological, affecting partners, rivals, and friends alike. This theme shows how anger corrodes trust and pushes people toward reckless choices.

🤝 Friendship & loyalty

Four friends stick together through addiction, debt, and crime, revealing a complicated code of loyalty. Their bond sustains them in tough moments but also enables self-destructive patterns. The film examines how camaraderie can both protect and trap individuals within a vicious cycle.

💊 Addiction & crime

Filip’s rehab, Dejo’s drug debts, and the plan to move heroin illustrate how addiction drives the plot and fuels illegal activity. The pursuit of drugs collides with family expectations and law enforcement during a tense journey to Bosnia and a risky border encounter. The film portrays addiction as a social and personal menace.

🕊️ War legacy

Two of the main characters are Croatian War of Independence veterans, whose experiences shape their brutality, coping strategies, and sense of entitlement. The past informs present behavior, often surfacing as pride, trauma, or mistrust. The generational scars frame their interactions and mistakes.