Kćeri dijaspore

U potrazi za ženama Hrvatskog proljećaGodine 1971. Hrvatska je bila puna mogućnosti. Studenti su izlazili na ulice. Pisci i učitelji okupljali su se po kavanama. Građani su tražili kulturnu slobodu i pravo da otvoreno govore vlastitim jezikom. Taj se trenutak nazvao Hrvatskim proljećem — i dočekan je nadzorom, uhićenjima i desetljećima šutnje.Povijest je zabilježila govore, suđenja i političke posljedice. A žene?Bile su posvuda — organizirale su, krijumčarile zabranjene knjige, posjećivale najmilije u zatvoru, držale na okupu krhki kulturni identitet — a gotovo nijedna nije ušla u povijesni zapis. Njihova sjećanja nikada nisu snimljena.Sve do sada.

Gdje je projekt danas

Ja sam Vera Zoričić, hrvatsko-kanadska istraživačica rođena u Njemačkoj roditeljima gastarbajterima (jugoslavenskim radnicima na privremenom radu). Kad sam počela istraživati Hrvatsko proljeće, shvatila sam da žene koje su ga proživjele stare — a mnoge njihove priče nikada nisu zabilježene.Zato sam osnovala Stari Lav Films, ishodila dozvole za snimanje u Hrvatskoj i krenula u potragu.

Devet žena dosad je pristalo podijeliti svoje priče pred kamerom: pjesnikinje, profesorice, aktivistkinje, arhivistice, majke, kćeri. Neke su izgubile sve. Neke su se izgradile iz ničega. Neke su desetljećima šutjele.

Projekt su prepoznali Vijenac / Matica hrvatska i HAZU, uključujući prilog o razmišljanjima akademkinje Dubravke Oraić-Tolić o ženama u Hrvatskom proljeću.Intervjui su snimljeni. Ono što ostaje jest pretvoriti ih u film koji ljudi zaista mogu pogledati.

Rok koji znači

Cilj je objaviti Kćeri dijaspore 17. ožujka 2027. — na 60. obljetnicu Deklaracije o nazivu i položaju hrvatskog književnog jezika. Film o ženama Hrvatskog proljeća, dovršen na obljetnicu dokumenta koji ga je pomogao zapaliti.

Što ova kampanja financira

Cilj od 5.000 CAD predstavlja zadnu fazu: montažu, dizajn zvuka, korekciju boje, glazbu i festivalsku distribuciju — i za njih ću vam se transparentno obratiti kako rad bude napredovao.Svaki dolar ide izravno u film.

https://www.starilavfilms.com

Daughters of the Diaspora

Finding the Women of the Croatian Spring

In 1971, Croatia was alive with possibilities. Students marched. Writers and teachers gathered in cafés. Citizens called for cultural freedom and the right to speak their own language openly. The moment became known as the Croatian Spring — and it was met with surveillance, arrests, and decades of silence.

History recorded the speeches, the trials, and the political fallout. But the women?

They were everywhere — organizing, smuggling banned books, visiting loved ones in prison, holding a fragile cultural identity together — and almost none of them entered the historical record. Their memories were never filmed.

Until now.

Where the project stands

I'm Vera Zoričić, a Croatian-Canadian researcher born in Germany to gastarbeiter (Yugoslav guest-worker) parents. When I began researching the Croatian Spring, I realized the women who lived through it are aging — and many of their stories have never been recorded.

So I founded Stari Lav Films, secured filming permissions in Croatia, and began the search.

Nine women have now agreed to share their stories on camera: poets, professors, activists, archivists, mothers, daughters. Some lost everything. Some rebuilt from nothing. Some stayed silent for decades.

The project has been recognized by Vijenac / Matica hrvatska and HAZU, including coverage of Akademkinja Dubravka Oraić-Tolić's reflections on women in the Croatian Spring.

The interviews are filmed. What's left is turning them into a film people can actually watch.

What this campaign funds

This $5,000 CAD goal will fund editing, sound design, color, music, and festival delivery — and I'll keep you updated transparently as the work progresses.

Every dollar goes directly into the film.

The deadline that matters

The aim is to release Daughters of the Diaspora on March 17, 2027 — the 60th anniversary of the Declaration on the Name and Status of the Croatian Literary Language. A film about the women of the Croatian Spring, finished in time for the anniversary of the document that helped ignite it.

How you can help

If you believe in women's stories, in diaspora histories, and in recovering what nearly disappeared — back this project. Share it. Forward it to anyone who might care.

Without you, these voices may not be heard.

https://www.starilavfilms.com

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.