# The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent (Croatian: Čovjek koji nije mogao šutjeti) is a 2024 Croatian short drama film, written and directed by Nebojša Slijepčević. The film dramatizes the Štrpci massacre of 1993, when 18 Muslims and 1 Croat were pulled off a train by the Serbian White Eagles paramilitary group and massacred; it centres on Tomo Buzov (Dragan Mićanović), the sole non-Bosniak passenger on the train who tried to stand up against the attackers.
The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it was the winner of the Short Film Palme d'Or. It also won European Short Film at the 37th European Film Awards. It was shortlisted for the Best Live Action Short Film category, and eventually becoming the nominee in the same category for 97th Academy Awards, becoming the first Croatian film to get nominated for an Academy Award in that category, and first Croatian film overall to get nominated for an Academy Award since the independence of Croatia. The film got selection at the 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2025 under the World Lenses section.

## Plot

The film depicts the true story of the kidnapping and crime in Štrpci (Bosnia and Herzegovina) on February 27, 1993, on passenger train travelling from Belgrade to Bar, when the Beli Orlovi paramilitary unit dragged 24 Muslims from the train and ended up killing them.
Dragan is a middle-aged man in a train car with several other passengers, including the teenaged Milan, a grandfather and granddaughter, and a college student. The train stops unexpectedly, and the White Eagles are granted access to the train by the conductor. The soldiers force each passenger back into their seats and demand documentation and personal details from each. Many passengers are heard being forcefully dragged out. Milan admits to Dragan that he has no paperwork, and will also be arrested, but Dragan assures him that nobody in the car will let anything happen to him.
However, when a commander does enter the car, Dragan fails to rebuff him and instead sits helplessly as the commander abuses Milan and orders him out of the train, falsely assuring him that he will quickly be returned. The other bystanders also sit quietly; however, the final passenger in the car, a Croat army veteran named Tomo Buzov, angrily confronts the commander and questions his authority. As Buzov willingly leaves the train to speak with the officer in charge, Milan is able to safely stay, and the train continues on. Dragan watches Tomo's empty seat in silence.
The film ends with a tribute to Tomo Buzov, who was executed due to his attempt to stop the massacre.

## Cast

* Goran Bogdan as Dragan
* Alexis Manenti as commander of Beli Orlovi paramilitary
* Silvio Mumelaš as Milan
* Dragan Mićanović as Tomo Buzov
* Lara Nekić as student
* Priska Ugrina as granddaughter
* Dušan Gojić as grandfather
* Nebojša Pop Tasić as conductor
* Martin Kuhar as soldier
* Jakov Zovko as soldier
* Mijo Pavelko as passenger
* Robert Ugrina as passenger
* Damir Markovina voice
* Antonio Nuić voice

## Accolades

| Year | Festival/Event | Award | Category | Result |
| 2024 | Cannes Film Festival | Palme d'Or | Best Short Film | Won |
| 2024 | Melbourne International Film Festival | Grand Prix City of Melbourne | Best Short Film | Won |
| 2024 | AsterFest International Film | Aco Aleksov | Best Director | Won |
| 2024 | FeKK – Ljubljana Short Film Festival | Special Recognition | Special Recognition | Won |
| 2024 | Festival slovenskega filma Portorož | Special Recognition for Cinematography | Special Recognition for Cinematography | Won |
| 2024 | Sulmona Film Festival | Ex Aequo | Best Actor | Won |
| 2024 | Euro-Balkan Film Festival | Euro-Balkan Film Festival | Best Short Film | Won |
| 2024 | Bucharest Short Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Best Cinematography | Won |
| 2024 | Days of Croatian Film | Best Screenplay | Best Screenplay | Won |
| 2024 | Days of Croatian Film | Award for Ethics and Human Rights | Award for Ethics and Human Rights | Won |
| 2024 | Days of Croatian Film | Ex Aequo | Best Actor | Won |
| 2024 | International Short Film Festival Winterthur | Audience Award | Audience Award | Won |
| 2024 | European Film Academy | Prix Vimeo | European Short Film | Won |
| 2025 | 97th Academy Awards | Academy Award | Best Live Action Short Film | Nominated |