Made with a lot of passion and subtle humor, ''Straight A's'' is a documentary about Lidija Šunjerga, a Croatian woman who moved to Amsterdam at the age of 19, worked there as a prostitute for 15 years and then returned home, facing numerous problems.
Lidija was born in a small village on the Croatian coast. At the age of 19 she went to Amsterdam where she was promised a job as a waitress. Like many other girls from Eastern Europe, she ended up in a window of the Red Light District. But Lidija was not an ordinary prostitute. She had the charisma that makes people remember her even today, now that she has returned to Croatia. She modeled for Playboy, acted in porn movies, and worked as a waitress, cashier, babysitter... but she always ended up back in her window.
Now, after 15 years of such life, she has come home to start a new chapter and be a mother. She wanted to speak openly about her past. For a short while she became a tabloid press sensation, but was then left alone, with no possibilities to find a proper job. In the end, Lidija and her baby returned home to her mother and sister. The film unveils many sides of a person's struggle to regain the so-called normal life and be accepted.
The film was made in Croatia and the Netherlands over two and a half years.
IDFA (2004)
ZFF (2004)
Days of Croatian Film (2005) - Grand prix & Best Production Award to Factum
Dubrovnik FF (2005) - Best Documentary Film & Audience Award
Liburnia FF (2005) - Audience Award
Sarajevo FF (2005) - Special mention of the Human Rights Jury
ZagrebDox (2005)
Pool FF Ivanić Grad (2005)
East Silver (2005)
Parnu FF (2005)
Thessaloniki FF (2005)
Balkan Black Box Berlin (2005)
DokMa, Maribor (2005)
Independent Film & Video Makers Kalithea - Patras (2006)