In many corners of Europe, there are tragic stories of early childhood suffered by those who survived the educational atrocities. The novel upon which this film is based, was written by Zhivko Chingo. Entitled, " The Great Water " or " Golemata Voda " in Macdonian, it is the story of Old Lem (Meto Jovanovski) recalling his early youth. Reminiscing his childhood as a boy played by (Saso Kekenovski), he recalls the shocking and abysmal conditions of his socialist's party school where he suffered indoctrination decreed by the Stalinist propaganda. Director Ivo Trajkov, documents the children's gloomy, dreary atmosphere, amid the dark often torturous conditions of the Czeck government's state run orphanages. Deprived of faith, hope and spirit, Lem dreams of freedom are non-existence until he meets Isak Keyten (Maja Stankovska) who's very appearance promises friendship. Under the watchful eyes of the Warden (Mitko Apostolovski) and his aid Komrade Olivera (Verica Nedeska) life is grim at best. Still, Lem believes if he can win friendship in the eyes of Isak, then hope lies in his future. The dark, nearly impregnable prison presents itself as a bottomless pit where all dreams are forbidden. In this movie, the author's worse nightmares are the currency by which children exchange their obedience for a day's existence. ****
