A Dance with Destiny: An Engaging Look into 'God Will Not Help'

Manuela Martelli's engaging performance as Teresa in Hana Jušić’s captivating film "God Will Not Help" takes her viewers on a thrilling journey into a foreign land - rural Croatia. Here, her first few words are 'bones,' 'earth,' 'worker,' and 'murderer.' An unconventional initiation into a regional dialect in the 20th century. Her unexpected arrival has a tremendous and ominous impact, slowly unveiling new words such as 'danger,' 'hypocrite,' 'blood,' and 'fire.'

A chance meeting with Milena, the sole occupant of an isolated homestead, sets the story spiraling in an unexpected direction. Over time, despite initial hostility, a delicate bond forms between them, bridging the linguistic and cultural divide. When Ilija, the family patriarch with a falsely pious reputation, joins them, Teresa finds herself caught in a web of family politics.

Teresa is more than a silent observer in the household, her strong character and tales of her past, clothed cleverly by Katarina Pilić's costume design, make her a force to be reckoned with. Her seemingly modern presence in a challenging patriarchal society shakes up the family dynamics, mesmerizing audiences with a unique narrative crafted by Jušić’s screenplay.

"God Will Not Help" is a parallel narrative to Jušić’s 2016 debut "Quit Staring at my Plate." Even though "God Will Not Help" is set in the distant past, it touches viewers with its profound depiction of human emotions. With a running time of 137 minutes, the film is a rollercoaster ride through a variety of emotions, keeping audiences engrossed till the very end.