Finding: Balkan Divas

(Starring Cecilia Sargent and Kathrine Hunter), 28:45, 2023

My work centres on the intersection of my queer identity and post-Yugoslav cultural heritage, particularly within the Serb and Balkan diaspora in the U.K. I examine the complexities of this experience by focusing on language and imagination. My work inquires into the potential infusion of ‘camp’ into my understanding of my Serbian heritage to alleviate associated trauma by reinterpreting it through a queer lens.

In the process, I realised the significance of language in shaping our perception of the world. My limited proficiency in Serbian created gaps in my understanding, allowing me to imagine the culture differently. I explored this space where we can fill the voids in our comprehension of the world with our own chosen narratives.

This exploration aligns with my interest in the politics of archivism, where historical narratives are curated to reinforce state beliefs. In Serbia (and almost everywhere else), the construction of nationalism is constructed by highlighting perceived threats, with queer individuals positioned as a threat to the 'normal' Serb.

The absence of terminology for queer labels and the removal of queer individuals from national historical perceptions lead to queer culture borrowing from the West when defining a Balkan queer identity. I aimed to explore the possibility of creating a language to understand how Balkan queerness differs from its Western counterparts by exploring these gaps in national history.

“Finding: Balkan Divas" explores curated histories and imaginative possibilities by portraying three prominent Balkan women as queer idols, juxtaposed with Western Divas. The film mirrors the creation of camp, historically linked to Western divas, and concludes with the protagonists embracing their Western divas and preserving Western narratives, bypassing the need to fill gaps in Eastern history.