Grandma and Grandpa Go South: A Break with the Balkan Past or a Turn Towards “Yugo-nostalgia”?

The article examines how Grandma Goes South (Babica gre na jug, 1991) and Grandpa Goes South (Dedek gre na jug, 2022) construct the perception of the Balkans and what this reveals about the social context of their creation. While the first film symbolises Slovenia’s independence and a break from the Balkan region, the second film reflects a return to Balkan symbolism and Yugo-nostalgia. The analysis suggests that the relationship with the Balkans has changed primarily at the macro level, yet the national imaginary continues to sustain certain stereotypes.

The integral version of this article can be found in the printed KINO!