BACK TO THE LAND Synopsis
Imagine Croatia as a land of successful, innovative and ecologically sustainable agriculture. Imagine the farmers as accomplished, positive and satisfied people. In spite of numerous challenges and difficulties, there are such visionaries in Croatia, people aware of its agricultural potential who invest their energy, effort and resources into developing it. Each episode of the documentary series Back to the Land presents these pioneers working in various types of agriculture. We learn about the philosophy of living on and off the land, the challenges, problems, persistence, effort, importance of family support and, ultimately, satisfaction which all the emotional, intellectual and financial investment brings to these people and their communities.
Back to the Land is the 1st Croatian TV Show which is officially certificated as a Green Production
certificated by: RINA Services and Green.Film
Season #01
Ep: #1 Ales Winkler
A former lawyer from Ljubljana, Slovenia, Ales Winkler bought a neglected estate dating back to the 14th century, Stancija Kumparicka. With his wife and two children, he changed his residence, language and job for the idea of living on the land and off the land. A quite natural series of steps made goats important co-residents of their estate, which lead to the idea of cheese-making. Today, about 200 goats live on Kumparicka estate, and a modern cheese dairy produces high quality unpasteurized cheese enjoyed in top restaurants. The cheese also represents Croatia as a quality producer at various prestigious fairs.
Ep: #2 Goran Vrabec
After graduating from high school, Goran studied at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing and owned an AV equipment rental. While going out with friends, he was disappointed at the offer of sauces at the late-night fast-food joints, so he jokingly said he would make his own hot sauce. With his family support, his grew the first batch of hot peppers as a hobby, to make hot sauces for his friends. Then, some people he didn’t even know tasted his sauces and wanted more! Now Goran sells his hot sauces all over Croatia, and is also staring to export.
Ep: #3 Sandra Babac
Sandra used to work as a reporter for Croatian National Television. On a job, she went to a Rambo Amadeus concert to get a quote for a piece. She never managed to talk to Rambo, but she did meet the concert organizer Alan Damjanic. Sandra and Alan were spending the summer with her family in the country, when figs started falling off of trees. Sandra didn’t want to let the fruit from the family orchard go to waste so she made her first jam… Today, Sandra and Alan live with their children away from the city and their former careers. They grow fruit and make jams without added sugars and preservatives, which are exported all over Europe as an award-winning Croatian souvenir.
Ep: #4 Denis Bogoević-Marušić
Denis Bogoevic-Marusic was a typical Split city kid. He studied at Split Nautical High School, he worked as a cook, and even held a job at Split City Museum for a while. When he was 30, his father decided to retire to his birth place of Prizdrina on Peljesac peninsula. Denis recognized the potential for creation in his father’s move, something more than just a place to retire. He followed his father to their ancestral land where they started to grow indigenous vines of Plavac and Grk, cultivating their vineyards using principles of bio-dynamic agriculture. Fifteen years later, their winery produces internationally recognized wine, served in several Michelin star restaurants.
Season #02
Ep: #1 Domagoj Vida
Domagoj Vida, has already become a legend with his numerous sporting achievements, especially when he returned with silver from Russia and with bronze from Qatar, but he is going to achieve something even more for his homeland.
Ep: #2 Brankica Borović
Brankica Borovic and Paolo Mari met and fell in love in Rome. They had excellent, socially highly valued jobs there and, conventionally speaking, they lived a nice city life. However, they both felt that their real life was somewhere else.
Ep: #3 Anita Pintar
Anita Pintar has been learning new skills and mastering them tirelessly all her life, and thanks to this strong motivation of hers she created a wonderful agricultural story. Together with her husband, she owns a cheese farm.
Ep: #4 Ivan Sulog
Have you ever tried an Indian banana, a Siberian blueberry or kiwano? And did you know that these exotic crops thrive on the slopes of Medvednica, in the hinterland of Zadar and on the fertile plains of Slavonia?
Ep: #5 Zvonimir Kalić
Zvonimir Kalic has a Master’s Degree in International Relations, a wide smile and a ringing voice. Encouraged by the health benefits of hemp, witnessed by his own family, he devoted himself to the cultivation of this culture.
Ep: #6