Guca, a feature-length documentary written directed and produced by Milivoj Ilic, is also the name of a small village in Serbia that for over 40 years has been home to the national trumpet festival. Once a small local affair, it now pulls crowds of over 200,000 from across the world and is legendary across the Balkans.
Milivoj Ilic's account of the place, the people and the competitors is as exuberant, joyous and noisy as the festival itself. The film captures the brilliance and the machismo of the performances at a festival where young men do battle with brass bands.
The story follows two young players, the main rivals for the coveted 'Golden Trumpet', both of whom learnt as boys from fathers who have also competed in a country where mastering traditional playing is still held in high esteem.
You'll never look at a trumpet the same way again.
