Pavilion 6

Paviljon 6

As the Croatian population clamours for the vaccination against the COVID-19 virus, this film presents a portrait that offers some insight into a nation’s collective psyche.

While state authorities chase down supplies of increasingly rare Covid vaccinations, the queues of those waiting for them stretch endlessly along streets. Those queuing comprise a microcosm of the populace – a tapestry of personalities that range from stern gatekeepers to elderly women deliberating over vaccine preferences. As it moves from the bustling queues to the hushed interiors of vaccination centres, Pavilion 6 shifts from patients to the nurses and other members of staff. With its deliberate approach, Goran Dević’s film presents a reality that exists on the cusp of animated suspension. Each character copes with myriad issues – ranging from the mundane to the existential – while the film’s wider perspective presents, with no small amount of humour, a fascinating glimpse into the intricacies of Croatian society.