Surviving Earth

In Thea Gajic’s social realist feature debut, we follow Yugoslavian refugee Vlad as he embraces a life in Bristol and battles addiction.

  • Director

    Thea Gajić

  • With

    Slavko Sobin, Olive Gray

  • UK 2025. 96min

  • Digital

  • Certificate

    15

  • Some English subtitles

  • Courtesy of Metis Films

Based on a true story, Thea Gajić’s feature debut follows Vlad, a Yugoslav refugee who fled the 1990s conflict and rebuilt his life in Bristol. By day, he works as a drugs counsellor. By night, he leads a Balkan band that reconnects him to his roots. As the band seeks success, unresolved trauma resurfaces, straining the fragile peace he’s built, particularly his relationship with his daughter. In this turbulent environment, music becomes both a refuge from, and a reminder of, the past.

Audio Description is available at all screenings of this film.

Descriptive subtitles will be presented at these screenings: Thu 7 May 12:00 NFT4; Sat 9 May 15:10 NFT4; and Wed 13 May 15:15 NFT4