MISS STONE (Мис Стон)
Movie from: 1958
Duration: 97 minutes
Director: Zhivorad Mitrovic - Zhika
Screenplay: Gjorgji Abadziev, Trajche Popov
Leading Roles: Nikola Avtovski, Dimitar Costarov, Darko Damevski, Ilija Dzuvalekovski, Dragi Kostovski - Amfi, Vladimir Medar, Ilija Milchin,
Todor Nikolovski, Dragan Ocokoljic, Petre Prlichko, Olga Spiridonovic, Viktor Starchic, Marija Tocinoski
Content: The resistance against the Ottoman Empire in Macedonia is rising. Numerous bands of "komiti" prove the readiness
of the Macedonian people to fight for their freedom. At the same time different religious missions are trying to spread their influence
among the people. The center of the American Protestant Mission is in Salonica. After they had received permission to open a protestant
course in Bansko the missionaries were on their way. The group of missionaries consists of the American Miss Helen Stone and Mr. and
Mrs. Tsilka, Macedonians raised in America. Their leaving Salonica will be used by the organization called VMRO (Internal Macedonian
Revolutionary Organization) as means of drawing the attention of world public opinion towards the situation in Macedonia and to raise
money for the armaments of new groups of freedom fighters. This is why the men of Jane Sandanski kidnap Helen Stone and asks for 25.OOO
golden liras ransom from the Turkish Government. In the beginning, Miss Stone, being a pacifist, disapproves of the "komiti but later,
witnessing what the Macedonian people have to stand to survive and going through combat actions with the Turks, she turns to the side of
the "komiti" and writes the letter by which the demands of the VMRO will be realized.
Resume: It seems that the path traced with "Frosina" almost reached its aim with "Miss Stone", the fourth project complete
film opened a new field, expected and announced since the very beginning of Macedonian film production. The historical themes had always
been a great attraction for the producers. The screenplay was written by Georgi Abadzhiev and Trajche Popov and it deals with a
pre-Ilinden event. The plot is built around an American lady called Miss Stone who is a protestant missionary. Her duty brings her to
Pirin Macedonia. There she is kidnapped by the revolutionary company of Jane Sandanski whose aim is to get enough ransom for her so that
they can buy the necessary weapons and ammunition. Her stay with the revolutionaries enables her to understand their fight for freedom.
This leads to her moral transformation and she finally decides to write a letter in which she asks her authorities to pay the ransom.
The immediate reason for this is the death of her companion, the revolutionary Mandana. Thus created, the theme vertical of "Miss Stone"
was devoted to the Revolution, its origin and progress and its influence upon the humanitarian goals. The film was directed by Zhika
Mitrovic who was fully aware of the values of the script offered and had a strong sense of arranging them in the right order. The action,
following a classical scheme, was featured in two parallel directions and first impression is that it is a copy of a western film. The
film displayed in the best way many innovations of Macedonian feature film production. As a some kind of a proof, it must be mentioned
that "Miss Stone" was the first Yugoslav film made in color and pseudo relief technique, with the "totalscope" optical system. In the
objectives of the camera we can immediately feel the influence of the rich iconography tradition of Macedonian painting and plastic art.
The cameramen were Misha Stojanovic and Ljube Petkovski. It was also the first film in which costumes were used. They were designed by
Milica Babic-Jovanovic, a theatre costume designer with a great reputation. The art director was Vasilie Popovic-Cico, a painter. The
past and authentic rhythm were also achieved through the music composed by Ivan Rupnik, from Belgrade. The performances in "Miss Stone"
had a top artistic position in Yugoslav cinematography at that time. Olga Spridonovic played the leading part, also from Belgrade. The
most brilliant performance was by Petre Prlichko, a definitive portrait of Mandana whose character effectively and suggestively reflects
the inner essence of the national being in the existing historical circumstances. The rest of the cast theme consisted of Ilija Milchin,
Ilija Dzuvalekovski, Dimitar Kosatarov, Marija Tocinoski, Dragan Ocokolic Dragi Kostovski and others. "Miss Stone" is the only
kinesthetic example. A similar success has never been achieved, at least in such perfection. Whatever the reason was, the model as an
aesthetic structure has almost disappeared and it's about time it was revived.
Awards:
1959 FYFF, Pula, Golden Arena for the main male role / Petre Prlichko
1959 FYFF, Pula, Golden Arena for the main female role / Olga Spiridonovic
1959 FYFF, Pula, Golden Arena for art direction / Vasilie Popovic - Cico
1960 IFF, Edinburgh Honourable Diploma
1961 IFF, New Delhi, Honourable Diploma
Sources: Macedonian Cinema Information Center and Cinemateque of Macedonia.
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