Milan Mladenović

"Kao da je bilo nekad" is a documentary about band Ekatarina Velika (1981 - 1994). The band had a profound influence on the ex-Yugoslav scene of the 1980s and ended unusually tragic five members of the creative core of the band died between 1992 and 2002 from heroin abuse. The film comprehensively presents the band career with a particular attention to individual destinies of its members while trying to pose the question - who is actually to blame for their early death.

After the death of their sponsor, rock band Zenit falls into a crisis. They need to make new arrangements of old songs in only 6 days. There comes to disagreement between band members because of different opinions.

A frustrated and unemployed architect experiences flashbacks of his youth and 1968 protests while the life passes by. Unable to adapt and to accept the reality, he’s constantly getting into conflicts with the people around him.

Having cult Serbian new wave band Šarlo Akrobata (Charlot the Acrobat) and their members as a central point, this film shows cultural milieu of the 1980s in Yugoslavia, and subsequent downfall of alternative culture in it.