The Promising Boy

The film opens with Slobodan Milošević as a studious young man living in upscale Belgrade. He listens to Russian bards on his stereo and he respects his parents’ expectations as Maša and her parents visit. This moment sets up his carefully managed life before anything drastic breaks loose.

Slobodan and Maša navigate a traditional courtship, joining both sets of parents for social gatherings. He proves attentive and considerate as Maša’s political and intellectual family circles test propriety. Maša mentions an intrauterine device, hinting at their cautious approach to sex.

While driving around Belgrade, Slobodan picks up Clavis, a French-speaking Swiss traveler. They connect playfully and arrange to meet again as he drops her at Hotel Slavija. The chance meeting marks the start of a more adventurous side of his life.

Slobodan escorts Clavis to museums and discusses art, politics, and cinema in a blunt, flirtatious dialogue. Their day culminates in a sexual encounter when she visits his hotel room and performs oral sex as the soundtrack plays. The encounter foreshadows his appetite for risk and novelty.

At a day on Lido Beach, Maša’s friend sees Slobodan with Clavis, accusing him of infidelity. Maša strikes him with a paddle, he loses consciousness, and he swims across the Danube in a dazed surge. He searches for Clavis at the Danube and Hotel Slavija, only to be turned away by hotel security, leaving him exhilarated but unresolved.

Surviving the blow to his ego, Slobodan visits a barber and shaves his beard, signaling a dramatic shift in his lifestyle. The accompanying song Pekinška Patka's 'Bolje da nosim kratku kosu' underscores a punk-inspired rebirth. This cosmetic change becomes a symbol of his broader transformation.

Following the head injury, Slobodan stops returning home and crashes at various dorm rooms in Studentski Grad. His parents and Maša grow concerned and report him missing to the police. When police locate him, his father reacts violently and throws him out, and Slobodan flees in his own Volkswagen.

Late one night, he visits Maša’s apartment only to find she’s in Greece with her father. He seduces Maša’s mother, and she initially objects but eventually submits to his advances. The next morning she presents breakfast in bed and they have a bitter 'this can't continue' talk, which ends with him mocking her before he drives away; in the car he plays a Šarlo Akrobata tape, masturbates, and pulls over just before climax.

Seeking a new direction, Slobodan sells his car to buy a motorcycle, signaling a break from the old life. He shifts toward a more restless, agile lifestyle and embraces speed as a symbol of change. The sale marks a decisive turn in his personal reinvention.

Slobodan dives into Belgrade’s new wave circles, attending shows at SKC and absorbing the counterculture energy. He encounters musicians and fans who will shape his future, marking the start of a different personal trajectory. The ambience signals a shift from personal rebellion to creative ambition.

At the Igra staklenih perli gig, Slobodan meets Ljubica, who takes him to her place and pushes him into a sexual encounter. The encounter reveals his willingness to push boundaries in relationships. Afterward, she suggests he form a band and helps connect him to people in the scene.

Ljubica takes him to a private hipster party where VIS Idoli performs 'Schwüle über Europa'. The scene introduces him to Pit, who is impressed by Slobodan’s lyrics and eager to help. This encounter signals his entry into a new musician network.

The party cements a crucial connection as Pit becomes a contact who champions Slobodan’s writing and connects him with people who can realize his musical ambitions. The bonds hint at a future collaboration beyond his rebellious phase. The timeline closes with Slobodan positioned to pursue artistic growth.