‘Petty Thieves’ Explores “Gestures of Solidarity Among People With Little Power” (Exclusive Trailer)
Croatian filmmaker Mate Ugrin's feature directorial debut, which premieres in Karlovy Vary's Proxima competition, also explores whether you can feel at home in a tourist destination that seems mainly
Croatian filmmaker Mate Ugrin's feature directorial debut, which premieres in Karlovy Vary's Proxima competition, also explores whether you can feel a
Read Full Story at Hollywood Reporter →Why This Matters
Mate Ugrin’s *Petty Thieves* arrives at a cultural inflection point where global tourism’s homogenizing effects clash with local identity. The film’s focus on solidarity among marginalized communities offers a counter-narrative to the commodification of place, challenging audiences to reconsider who truly belongs in spaces shaped by fleeting visitors rather than permanent residents.
Background Context
Croatia’s post-war tourism boom has transformed its coastal cities into seasonal playgrounds, often at the expense of year-round residents. With property prices soaring and cultural erosion accelerating, the country’s EU integration in 2013 accelerated both economic opportunities and social tensions, making films like Ugrin’s a vital lens on displacement disguised as progress.
What Happens Next
The Karlovy Vary premiere could amplify debates about artistic portrayals of economic precarity in tourist economies, potentially sparking dialogues between filmmakers, policymakers, and locals. Should the film resonate widely, it may embolden other artists in the region to interrogate similar dynamics, or risk becoming a footnote in a broader struggle over cultural ownership.
Bigger Picture
Ugrin’s work reflects a growing cinematic trend where filmmakers in post-socialist states dissect the contradictions of neoliberal tourism. As cities like Dubrovnik and Split grapple with overtourism, *Petty Thieves* joins a wave of storytelling that frames economic survival—not spectacle—as the true measure of home.
