Goran Maluš

On a small island in the Adriatic, tensions rise between the local population and the forces of the Yugoslav People's Army. The locals try to fight the enemy with song, dance, music and motivational speeches, but, major Aleksa, the head of the batallion situated on the island, threatens to blow their barracks up with everyone inside them if the civilians don't retreat.

Seeking emotional comfort, Radost buys a pet goldfish to keep in a small bag. She names the fish Curica, but the fish—who internally identifies as a sarcastic, cynical male named Stipe—silently complains about his tiny plastic bag, lack of oxygen, and being trapped with an erratic owner.

During the early stages of the Croatian War of Independance the Serbian paramilitary forces, assisted heavily by the People's Army of Yugoslavia, manage to make their way into the small town of Vukovar, which quickly becomes a no man's land. However, despite the chaos around him, radio reporter Siniša Glavašević is determined the get the word out, chronicling both the efforts of the Croatian army and the siege of the enemy side.

The story begins when we learn that the lives of the main characters, although quite different and seemingly unrelated, are actually intertwined on multiple levels. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, a great friendship and business partnership of Matko and Zoran rudely ended.

A widower from Split arrives in Zagreb for a medical checkup and disrupts his son’s family everyday.