Tomislav Gotovac

Tomislav Gotovac (né à Sombor, Vojvodina, ex-Yougoslavie en 1937 et décédé à Zagreb le 24 juin 2010) a été membre de la Société des Artistes Visuels Croates, réalisateur de films d’avant-garde et le plus important performeur croate. Ses films ont été montrés dans le monde entier.
Sa première performance a eu lieu en 1954 à Monstar, ses premières séries de photographies ont été réalisées en 1960, son premier film amateur, Smrt (Death), a été montré en 1962 au ciné-club de Zagreb. Son premier collage a été produit en 1964. En 1972 il a été persécuté politiquement pour sa participation au film de fin d'études de Lazar Stojanović' Plastic Jesus (le réalisateur fut envoyé en prison) et il lui a été empêché de se diplômer entre 1972-1976. En 1976, il a enfin pu présenter son film de fin d'études Presuda (Verdict), mais le régime yougoslave lui a ensuite interdit de trouver un travail ou de réaliser des films subventionnés par l’État. Il a joué dans les films de ses collègues, dont ceux de Zoran Tadić Franci Slak.
En 2005 il a changé son nom, Tomislav Gotovac, pour celui de Antonio G. Lauer.

Tomislav Gotovac

Born in Sombor (Vojvodina, ex Yugoslavia), in 1937. In the summer of 1941 his parents bring him to Zagreb, where from 1943 he begins to attend elementary school. He completes seven grades there followed by the Fifth Male Secondary School. From 1955-1956 he studies architecture at the Architecture Faculty in Zagreb. In 1956 he becomes a bank clerk of the fifteenth salary grade in the budget accounting department and stays there until 1960. Between1960-62 he serves his military service in JNA (Yugoslav National Army) in the tank brigade at Red Cross in Niš. From 1962-1967 he works as a clerk in the administration of Mladen Stojanović Hospital (now the Sisters of Charity Hospital) responsible for payroll accounts and inventory. A true film lover, he spent all his spare time in Zagreb cinemas, especially in Ciinematheque watching films of his favourite directors (Ford, Hawks, Stevens…).

Acted his first performance in 1954, in Mostar, first series of photographs in 1960, first amateur film Smrt (Death) in 1962 at the Cine Club Zagreb.His first collages came to light in 1964. In 1967 he was accepted into the film directing program at the Academy for film, radio and TV in Belgrade. He also attended seminars by Slavko Vorkapić and Frank Capra.

In 1972 he is politically hounded for his participation in Lazar Stojanović's student (graduate) film – Plastic Jesus (the director was sent to jail), and was not allowed to graduate between 1972-1976, when he finally graduates with his student film Presuda (Verdict), but the Yugoslav regime made sure that he could not get any job, nor he was allowed to direct any state financed films. He acted in films by colegaues Zoran Tadić Franci Slak and others.

He was a member of the Croatian Society of Visual Artists, director of avant-garde films and the most important Croatian performance artist. His films were screened all around the globe. In 2005 he changed his name Tomislav Gotovac to Antonio G. Lauer.

Tom Gotovac died on 24th of June, 2010 in Zagreb.



FIilmography
Prije podne jednog fauna / The Forenoon of a Faun (1963)
Pravac [Stevens-Duke] / Straight Line [Stevens-Duke](1964)
Plavi jahač [Godard-art] / Blue Rider [Godard-Art] (1964)
Kružnica [Jutkevič-Count] / Circle [Jutkevič-Count](1964)
Osjećam se dobro / I Feel All Right (1966)
Kuda idemo ne pitajte / Don’t Ask Where we’re are Going (1966)
S (1966)
Ella (1966)
29 (1967)
T (1969)
Alamo (1969)
M (1970)
Obiteljski film II / Family Film 2 (1971)
Glenn Miller I. [Srednjoškolsko igralište I] / Glenn Miller 1 [High School Playground 1] (1977)
Glenn Miller 2000 (2000)
Dead Man Walking (2002)