When Father Was Away on Business Poster

When Father Was Away on Business (1985)

7.3/10 2h 16m Jan 15, 1985
Drama

Tito's break-up with Stalin in 1948 marked the beginning of not only confusing, but also very dangerous, years for many hard-core Yugoslav communists. A careless remark about the newspaper cartoon is enough for Mesha to join many arrested unfortunates. His family is now forced to cope with the situation and wait for his release from prison.

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Movie Details

Original Title Otac na službenom putu
Original Language SH
Status Released
Popularity 1.3

Cast

No Photo" alt="Moreno de Bartoli" class="cast-photo">
Moreno de Bartoli
Malik
Popularity: 0.1
Miki Manojlović
Miki Manojlović
Mehmed 'Meša' Zolj, otac
Popularity: 0.5
Mirjana Karanović
Mirjana Karanović
Senija 'Sena' Zolj, majka
Popularity: 0.2
Mustafa Nadarević
Mustafa Nadarević
Zijah 'Zijo' Zulfikarpašić
Popularity: 0.2
Mira Furlan
Mira Furlan
Ankica Vidmar
Popularity: 0.5
Predrag Laković
Predrag Laković
Kućepazitelj Franjo
Popularity: 0.1
Pavle Vuisić
Pavle Vuisić
Muzafer Zulfikarpašić, dedo
Popularity: 0.3
Slobodan Aligrudić
Slobodan Aligrudić
Ostoja Cekić
Popularity: 0.1
Eva Ras
Eva Ras
Ilonka Petrović
Popularity: 0.4
No Photo" alt="Aco Gjorčev" class="cast-photo">
Aco Gjorčev
Dr. Jevgeni Ljahov
Popularity: 0.0
Emir Hadžihafizbegović
Emir Hadžihafizbegović
Fahro Zulfikarpašić
Popularity: 0.7
Zoran Radmilović
Zoran Radmilović
Brko Pilot
Popularity: 0.2

Key Crew

Director Emir Kusturica
Writer Abdulah Sidran
Producer Mirza Pašić
Editor Andrija Zafranović

Production

Forum Sarajevo
YU
Centar film
RS
Sutjeska Film
YU

Videos & Trailers

When Father Was Away On Business [Otac Na Sluzbenom Putu] (1985), Yugoslavia - Emir Kusturica
When Father Was Away On Business [Otac Na Sluzbenom Putu] (1985), Yugoslavia - Emir Kusturica
Clip

Image Gallery

Backdrops
Backdrop Image
Backdrop Image
Backdrop Image
Backdrop Image

Keywords

muslim yugoslavia loss of loved one difficult childhood circumcision anti-communism communism 1950s

Reviews from TMDB

deepkino 7/10
Sep 17, 2025

Emir Kusturica's When Father Was Away on Business is a courageous, funny, and deeply moving film that blends comedy, family drama, and political realism. The title refers to the lie a family tells a six-year-old boy to explain his father's imprisonment in a labor camp for a thoughtless remark that o ... Read more

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Rating
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Based on 133 votes

Details
Release Date January 15, 1985
Runtime 2h 16m
Language SH
Status Released
Popularity 1.3
Links
IMDb
Where to Watch

Availability information not available

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