TIFF 2013: Withering by Milos Pusic (trailer)

Janko comes home to his godforsaken village after several years of living in Belgrade, where he worked hard for little money. His mountain village is almost deserted and Janko’s plan is to sell his land and go to work in Switzerland, where he believes he will solve his financial problems and find a place in the sun. His lonely mother, fifty-year-old Milica, has been hoping for a long time that Janko would come back to the village with a wife and raise a family there. She will do anything it takes to make him change his mind. Strahinja, a lonely inhabitant of the deserted village and an idealist, but a man full of strength and the will to live, is helping Milica. After the tragic death of his son, he closed the tavern he was running, his daughter became an alcoholic and his wife stopped talking to him. Although Milica will do her best to persuade Janko to stay and try to live off his land as best he can, and although Strahinja will suggest they reopen the tavern together and split the profits 50-50, Janko will not give up on his dream. He is willing to do anything to secure his future – even to sell his father’s grave.