{"id":1979,"date":"2025-12-09T17:39:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T16:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/?p=1979"},"modified":"2026-01-22T22:51:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T21:51:02","slug":"doris-dragovic-marija-magdalena-brac-zagreb-the-eurovision-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.katjarestovic.com\/en\/multimedia\/music-videos\/doris-dragovic-marija-magdalena-brac-zagreb-the-eurovision-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"DORIS DRAGOVI\u0106 \u2014 \u201cMarija Magdalena\u201d, Bra\u010d, Zagreb & the Eurovision Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cMarija Magdalena\u201d: Filming a cult music video from Bol on Bra\u010d to Zagreb, produced by HRT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restovi\u0107 directed one of the most iconic videos in Croatian music history, accompanying Doris Dragovi\u0107\u2019s Eurovision performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The video for \u201cMarija Magdalena\u201d remains one of the most visually striking moments of Croatia\u2019s Eurovision story. It was filmed on several locations \u2014 from the stone landscapes of Bra\u010d to the urban scenery of Zagreb \u2014 creating a contrast between the sacred, the mythical and the contemporary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doris Dragovi\u0107 delivered immense stage power and dedication, which Restovi\u0107 translated into strong, almost iconographic images. The project became a reference point for domestic music video production and one of the most successful chapters in Croatian pop-visual aesthetics of that era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MARIJA MAGDALENA ON THE WINGS OF SUCCESS IN JERUSALEM<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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My collaboration and relationship with Doris lasted intensely for five, six, perhaps even seven years \u2013 says Katja Restovi\u0107: During that time, we created a large number of music videos \u2014 eight or nine \u2014 from \u201cMarija Magdalena\u201d (Mary Magdalene), \u201cGabriel\u201d (Gabriel), \u201cKao ti\u201d (Like You), \u201cSelim ti ja\u201d (I\u2019m Moving Away), to \u201cLice\u201d (The Face), and several others that would now require a look through the archives. That entire period left a deep and lasting mark on my life \u2013 says Restovi\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are both intense women and true perfectionists, which is why our conversations about every video were long, thorough and analytical. We would talk for hours \u2014 often through the night \u2014 about every frame, every detail. Everything had to be perfect. Everything had to make sense. Every new project and every new video brought a fresh dimension to our relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doris has always fascinated me as a woman \u2014 at once incredibly strong and resilient, yet deeply emotional. She is an excellent speaker, knows exactly what she wants, carries many layers and faces, but at the very core of it all lies a great, warm and kind heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One shoot in particular remains etched in my memory \u2014 \u201cMarija Magdalena.\u201d We travelled by vans toward Split along the old coastal road in violent storms. Then came the ferry to Bra\u010d, again through rough seas. In Bol, we filmed on a small peninsula, and some scenes were shot from a police helicopter with a fully transparent floor. The wind was fierce, and the cameraman was quite literally on the edge \u2013 Restovi\u0107 explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That evening, during dinner, a fish bone got stuck deep in my throat. No one slept until I managed to pull it out \u2014 I woke everyone when I finally succeeded. Meanwhile, Doris fell ill from the cold. Still, despite everything, she remained extraordinarily strong and professional. We returned again by stormy ferry, then flew to Zagreb through heavy turbulence \u2014 and she still gave her absolute maximum because we were facing a strict deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The production was for Croatian Television and involved a large number of people. A truly serious professional team led by producer Branko Matutinovi\u0107 \u2014 an exceptional man with whom I would later go on to collaborate on a film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, that was a unique life period. We almost lived together \u2014 creating, talking, understanding each other without many words. Doris never complicated things that didn\u2019t matter. She always knew what was essential. She deeply respected my creativity and was completely relaxed in front of my camera. She knew I would always bring out her best. She is a beautiful woman \u2014 and she knows it \u2014 and she also knows her best angles. Doris is strong, charismatic, layered and profoundly special. I am deeply grateful that she is part of my life and my creative journey \u2013 Katja Restovi\u0107 concludeds the interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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