Makavejev, Dusan (1932– )

Yugoslav film director. His first feature was Man is Not a Bird (1966), followed by the successful Tragedy of a Switchboard Operator (1967). His experiments with a kind of narrative collage were continued in W R: Mysteries of the Organism (1971), which finally established his reputation.

After studying psychology, writing criticism and directing theatre, Makavejev made a series of documentaries for Zagreb film, and had a volume of essays published. He also directed Innocence Unprotected (1968) and, experimenting with multiple narrative and subversive humour, Sweet Movie (1974). Many of his films explore sexual relationships and social structures and have been banned for sexual and political content. His filmography also includes Montenegro (1981), The Coca-Cola Kid (1985), Manifesto (1989), A Hole in the Soul (1994), and Danish Girls Show Everything (1996).