Sevap / Mitzvah

Sevap / Mitzvah (A Good Deed) is a 2023 period drama film written and directed by Sabina Vajraća, and executive produced by Sanela Diana Jenkins and D Empire Entertainment.[1] It is inspired by a true story of Bosnian Muslim and Jewish families that save each other's lives.[2]

Sevap / Mitzvah
Directed bySabina Vajraća
Written bySabina Vajraća
Produced by
  • Diana Sanela Jenkins
  • Azra Isaković
  • Kerim Mašović
  • Sabina Vajraća
Starring
  • Helena Vuković
  • Magdalena Živaljić Tadić
  • Sanela Krsmanović-Bistrivoda
  • Frano Mašković Mačak
Edited bySaša Peševski
Production
companies
  • Kontraplan
  • Gemini/Snake
Release date
  • 30 March 2023 (2023-03-30)
Running time
20 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

The film stars Helena Vuković, Adnan Hasković, Sanela Krsmanović-Bistrivoda, Magdalena Živaljić Tadić, Muhamed Hadžović, Reshad Strik and Rijad Gvozden.

Sevap / Mitzvah had its world premiere on March 30, 2023.[3]

Plot

The film is based on a true event, and it is about the Muslim Hardaga family who saved the Jewish Kabiljo family in 1941 Nazi-occupied Bosnia during the Second World War. 50 years later, during the Serbian aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Kabiljo family rescues the Hardaga family from a besieged Sarajevo.[4]

Cast
  • Helena Vuković as Zejneba Hardaga
  • Sanela Krsmanović-Bistrivoda as Bahra Hardaga
  • Magdalena Živaljić Tadić as Rifka Kabiljo
  • Adnan Hasković as Mustafa Hardaga
  • Muhamed Hadžović as Izet Hardaga
  • Frano Mašković Mačak as Josef Kabiljo
  • Rijad Gvozden as Ivica
  • Emina Minka Muftić as Older Zejneba Hardaga
  • Jasna Buha as Older Rifka Kabiljo
  • Snežana Vidović as Aida Hardaga
  • Reshad Strik JDC Representative

Reception and Awards

Sonia McCloud of Film-Business gave the film 4 stars, saying “Writer and director Sabina Vajraća has created a masterpiece that captures the true essence of those most harrowing events.”[5] FilmThreat’s Alan Ng said “the performances stand out” and “Vukovic carries the film.”[6] Valerie Milano of The Hollywood Times stated Sevap / Mitzvah “is a must-watch film showcasing humanity’s true essence.”[7]

Sevap / Mitzvah won the Humanitas Prize for Short Film in 2023 by Humanitas,[8] the organization that annually honors film and television writers whose work best explores the human condition.[9]

The film has won multiple awards at film festivals including the Audience Award at Italy's 2023 Sedicicorto International Film Festival,[10] the International Vision Award at the 2023 Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival,[11] and Best Female Focus Jury Award at the 2023 Cordillera International Film Festival.[12]

Sevap / Mitzvah has qualified to be considered for a 2024 Academy Award.[13]

References
  1. BiH, N1 (2023-09-24). "Sanela Jenkins izvršna producentica na filmu koji je u utrci za Oskara". N1 (in Bosnian). Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  2. Gerrie, Anthea. "Meet the Muslim and Jew who saved each others lives in conflicts decades apart". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  3. Michael (2023-09-12). "Oscar® Qualifying Sevap Mitzvah by Sabina Vajraca: A Woman Risks Her Life to Save Her Friend". indieactivity. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  4. "'Sevap/Mitzvah'- a film based on true events of Bosnian Muslims and Jews saving one another in wars". The Business Standard. 2022-06-18. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  5. McCloud, Sonia (2023-03-23). "CIFF 2023: Sabina Vajraca's SEVAP/MITZVAH – based on true events in Nazi-occupied Bosnia a Muslim woman risks her life to save a Jewish friend and her family". FILM & TELEVISION BUSINESS. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  6. "Sevap/Mitzvah Featured, Reviews Film Threat". 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  7. Milano, Valerie (2023-09-18). ""SEVAP/MITZVAH" by Sabina Vajraca | The Hollywood Times". Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  8. Hipes, Patrick (2023-08-16). "Humanitas Prize Winners Include 'The Last Of Us', Tyler Perry, Cooper Raiff's 'Cha Cha Real Smooth'". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  9. "2023 Winners & Nominees". Humanitas. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  10. coolstyle.ba. "Na putu do Oskara: Film Sevap/Mitzvah osvojio nagradu publike u Italiji". www.faktor.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  11. "Na putu do Oscara, film "Sevap/Mitzvah" osvojio nagradu publike u Italiji". www.klix.ba (in Croatian). Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  12. "2023 Awards". Cordillera. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  13. Higgins, John (2023-09-16). "Short Film Review: SEVAP/MITZVAH". Film and TV Now. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
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