Novak is an excellent drama about a washed-up scientist slowly becoming a cult leader. The film follows Dr. Nikola Novak (Zlatko Burić, Triangle of Sadness, Pusher), an elderly and disgraced academic, living by himself in Athens. He is approached by the son of a former “patient,” who invites him to an anarchist commune known as “New-Atlantis.” There he is admired by the young, and highly impressionable, community members.
Novak’s character arc is the crux of the piece. We watch in real time as the initially lonely old man is gradually exposed to be a more malicious figure over the course of the story. This reveal is complemented by a great performance by Burić. At first, he makes Novak appear sympathetic and, even as we begin to see his more sinister side, it is actually quite wholesome to watch the once isolated doctor find a community.
The supporting cast are also remarkable, especially Elena Topalidou (Magnetic Fields, Bella) who plays the confrontational Maria. Her performance provides a contrast to Burić’s, portraying Maria as a strict and controlling figure. Yet, I found myself rooting for her towards the end of the film and her final scene with Burić was narratively satisfying. A mention must be made of the cinematography, which manages to be creative despite the many scenes of straightforward dialogue.
If I had any criticisms of the piece, the middle section does drag a little with a few scenes being potentially superfluous. This could just be a matter of personal taste, but I could see where the plot was going and was eager for it to reach its dramatic peak. I also felt a few of the interesting supporting characters slowly faded into the background, which was a slight waste of dramatic potential. Other than that, Novak is a well written, intelligent look at how a community founded with good intentions, albeit misguided, can slowly warp into a toxic means of control.
The 78th Edinburgh International Film Festival ran from the 14th to the 20th August 2025. Novak screened as part of the Competition Features strand.
Press images provided by EIFF 2025 for press use.