"Nedeljni Rucak" or "Sunday Lunch" presents another attempt of pointing out some of communist Yugoslavia's hot social issues, in this case - the health system.
Dr. Dusan Arandjelovic is a well-known surgeon and a leading director of a renown medical institution. Though he's highly positioned, professionally acclaimed, well situated and blessed with a decent family, the good doctor never seems to have enough. Not only is he the iron fist of his hospital, but quite a lady's man as well. Dusan continues to want more and more, until eventually, he finishes with a mouthful that can hardly be chewed. That's when all his life starts tumbling down.
"Nedeljni Rucak" is a social drama based on burning questions of Yugoslavian health system. Although not as bad as today, back in the 80s it was quite inefficient, expensive and corrupt. Treatment of patients was always second in line, right after massive procurements, business lunches and all other sorts of power misuse. Instead of curing people, head doctors and ministry employees spent their time in restaurants, spas, country clubs and various places where troubles of plain mortals couldn't reach, all on the state's expense of course. In the meantime, the idealist hardworking few kept the whole system from a complete fallout. "Nedeljni Rucak" reveals some of that atmosphere which unfortunately has endured up to the present times, and continues to run down the quality of health care.
Casting - solid as ever: Bata Zivojinovic, Milena Dravic, Irfan Mensur, Dusan Janicijevic, Neda Arneric, Pavle Vujisic and others showed a classic and proper performance. Nothing special or remarkable though, but very decent. "Nedeljni Rucak" remains a film which only scratched the surface of a serious social problem, and as such it was unfortunately forgotten. Surely worth watching.
Dr. Dusan Arandjelovic is a well-known surgeon and a leading director of a renown medical institution. Though he's highly positioned, professionally acclaimed, well situated and blessed with a decent family, the good doctor never seems to have enough. Not only is he the iron fist of his hospital, but quite a lady's man as well. Dusan continues to want more and more, until eventually, he finishes with a mouthful that can hardly be chewed. That's when all his life starts tumbling down.
"Nedeljni Rucak" is a social drama based on burning questions of Yugoslavian health system. Although not as bad as today, back in the 80s it was quite inefficient, expensive and corrupt. Treatment of patients was always second in line, right after massive procurements, business lunches and all other sorts of power misuse. Instead of curing people, head doctors and ministry employees spent their time in restaurants, spas, country clubs and various places where troubles of plain mortals couldn't reach, all on the state's expense of course. In the meantime, the idealist hardworking few kept the whole system from a complete fallout. "Nedeljni Rucak" reveals some of that atmosphere which unfortunately has endured up to the present times, and continues to run down the quality of health care.
Casting - solid as ever: Bata Zivojinovic, Milena Dravic, Irfan Mensur, Dusan Janicijevic, Neda Arneric, Pavle Vujisic and others showed a classic and proper performance. Nothing special or remarkable though, but very decent. "Nedeljni Rucak" remains a film which only scratched the surface of a serious social problem, and as such it was unfortunately forgotten. Surely worth watching.
