Fabijan (2016)

Everyday life for a ten year old boy Jan is a struggle - he lives in a modest city apartment with his mother Sara, a drug addict and an alcoholic who often neglects her own son. The plot begins with a night scene in Sara's and Jan's kitchen. While Jan is sleeping in his bedroom, Sara is enjoying the company of a doctor Goran while using alcohol and marijuana. From their conversation, we find out that it is Jan's birthday tomorrow and Sara cannot remember how old Jan will be. The next morning, Sara and Goran invite Jan to tell him happy birthday and give him a cake. Jan looks at Goran strangely, it is clear that he sees him for the first time and that such situations with his mom's partners are also not new for him. Next to Jan, there is Fabijan who is Jan's imaginary friend. Sara knows about Fabijan, but she does not want to accept nor acknowledge his existence. Jan, on the other hand, is unyielding and will not give in to his mother's requests to forget and let Fabijan go. Following Goran's departure, Sara is convincing Jan to go to school even though it is a Saturday which Jan points out while blankly staring at Fabijan. The tense situation is interrupted by a door bell. Against Sara's will, Hrvoje, the boy's father enters the apartment. He too is an addict and he came to take Sara's hidden drugs. Hrvoje finds out about the birthday, but does not concern himself too much with it. He congratulates Jan and mockingly greets Fabijan. He too can't see him. Hrvoje finds the hidden drugs and leaves the apartment. It is night again in Sara's and Jan's apartment. Sara is depressed and aggressive. She is left with no drugs, alone with her son who keeps talking to and mentioning Fabijan. While serving dinner, Jan grabs a third plate for Fabijan. This act triggers Sara's anger and she makes Jan go to his room. Fabijan continues sitting at the table and he gently touches Sara's hand. Suddenly, Sara realizes what she has done and what she keeps doing to herself and to her son. She goes into Jan's room, gives him a hug and promises that from now on, everything will be ok, just like it should be. Fabijan is in the kitchen, listening to her words. Sara feels something happening. Kitchen's balcony doors are wide open. The kitchen is empty.