Draguć – a small village with a big film story

In the heart of central Istria, between Pazin and Buzet, lies Draguć. Over the years, this small medieval town has acquired an unusual nickname – “Istrian Hollywood”. Although it seems peaceful and almost sleepy today, its stone streets and squares have attracted film crews for decades. Thanks to its authentic architecture and preserved ambience, Draguć has served as a backdrop for numerous films and series.

 

The beginning of the film story in Draguć

The film story of this town began in the early seventies. In 1972, part of the French film Mandrin was filmed in Draguć. It is a historical story about a legendary 18th-century outlaw. Monique Morelli and Armand Maestral appeared in the main roles. The medieval ambience of the Istrian village proved to be ideal for depicting French provincial settlements of that period.

Just a few years later, Draguć became a film location again. In 1975, the war film Divota prašine was filmed there, starring Ljubiša Samardžić, Ivo Ban, Ivanka Mezan and others. The film used the Istrian landscape to evoke the atmosphere of wartime. Already in 1976, a new film crew arrived in the town. Marija, a film and television series starring Vojislav Brajović, Mira Banjac, Semka Sokolović – Bertok, Nada Gaćešić and others… Vojislav Brajović was then known for his role in the series Otpisani, so the arrival of the film crew attracted a lot of attention.

A year later, Draguć again served as a setting for a war story. The film Letači velikog neba (1977) starred the legendary Boris Dvornik.

 

Karl Malden and the film that marked Draguć

One of the most famous filming took place in 1982, when the international production of the film Twilight Time arrived in Draguć. The main role was played by Oscar-winning Croatian-born Karl Malden, also known for the series The Streets of San Francisco. The film was almost entirely shot in Draguć. During filming, the film crew stayed in Buzet for months, where the Fontana Hotel was almost completely reserved for the production.

 

New projects and international productions

Draguć also appeared on film in 1995 in the project Melitta, the television version of which was broadcast under the title Čamčatka. In 2004, the film La Femme Musketeer was filmed in Draguć. The main roles were played by Nastassja Kinski, Susie Amy, Gerard Depardieu and Michael York. Parts of the film Libertas were also shot that same year. It is a historical drama directed by Veljko Bulajić about the life of Marin Držić.

Film crews continued to come later. In 2009, the war film Red Tails was filmed in Istria, starring Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr. and others. Some of the footage was shot in the Draguć area.

 

A small town with a great film history

For a village with only a few dozen inhabitants, the fact that it has been the location for several film projects over the decades is quite impressive. Draguć has become one of the most recognizable film locations in Istria. However, the film story of this small town is not yet complete. The filming of the feature film Tartuferie / Zadnji dani maestrala is currently underway. It is a co-production project between Slovenia, Italy and Croatia, directed by Igor Šterek. Frano Lasić is also among the cast. It is a refreshing comedy set in an Istrian village in the 1980s. The story is dynamic, and the characters are authentic and believable.

It seems that the stone streets of this small Istrian town will continue to attract film crews for a long time to come.