Though I'm not exactly familiar with Croatian films, Director Tomislav Radic's What Iva Recorded on October 31, 2003 ("Sto Je Iva Snimila 21, Listopada 2004") is a most unusual and interesting piece of work. Our story revolves around Iva (Masha Mati-Prodan, above), a young girl who's just turned 15 and receives a shiny new digital camera for her birthday. Fascinated by this new toy, she sets out to capture the day from her point of view---and though it's not exactly a "fly on the wall" perspective, it's still more engrossing than your average home movie. As her dysfunctional family's day spirals downwards, the illusion of What Iva Recorded is maintained through excellent performances, clever camerawork and plenty of realistic characters.

As our "tour guide", Iva is equal parts instigator and casual observer. Her mother Zeljka (Anja Sovagovic-Despot) and step-father Bozo (Ivo Gregurevic) are, shall we say, easily irritated---whether it's arguing over the birthday dinner or insisting they not be filmed, there's tension between Zeljka and Bozo that isn't just due to the busy event. The situation, of course, doesn't improve as more guests arrive throughout the day, but things only get worse when the birthday dinner is changed to an impromptu restaurant visit.

The film's camerawork is often seamless but occasionally distracting. Situations often arise when Iva is told to turn the camera off; instead, she places the still-running camera on a nearby table or chair and lets things play out. The subsequent shots are framed almost too neatly for their own good, somewhat weakening the otherwise-excellent illusion. It's an odd complaint, of course, but appropriate given the unusual circumstances.

Even so, What Iva Recorded still has plenty going for it. The story unfolds at a natural pace, the surprises are unexpected and the characters may be realistic enough to remind you of your own friends and relatives. It's certainly on of the more unusual "documentaries" I've seen on disc, but it's worth a look for those who like films a bit off the beaten path. Unfortunately, the DVD does very little to support the film, but the strength of the main feature is enough to keep this one above water. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, What Iva Recorded isn't a polished film but the visuals aren't too bad. Colors are a bit on the dull side, while the natural lighting conditions obscure some of the darker details. Fortunately, the DVD seems to be relatively free of digital problems (edge enhancement, etc.), resulting in a passable picture that's roughly on par with your average raw digital footage. The mono audio mix, presented in Croatian, is also very basic but serviceable. Again, it's roughly in par with home video, while the optional English subtitles will help viewers decipher some of the more muffled vocals.

As a stand-alone "documentary", What Iva Recorded is certainly an interesting effort; even so, it's easy to see that this film will only appeal to a limited audience. Though it ultimately presents little more than a small slice of life in a different country, some viewers will be surprised to see more familiar situations than expected. The relatively high list price---especially for a bare-bones disc---unfortunately kills any chance of a blind buy, but more adventurous documentary fans may want to track this release down for the weekend. Rent It.