What Is The Constitution About?
The premise of The Constitution in 294 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a crumbling yet charming apartment block in downtown Zagreb, lives are stacked behind thin walls, hallways echo with muffled conversations, and the city’s restless pulse seeps through cracked windows. The building becomes a micro‑cosm of a nation still wrestling with its fractured history, where everyday routines are tinged with both humor and an undercurrent of unease, a stray menace hinted at by the presence of a mysterious dog‑poisoner who lurks just out of sight.
The residents are as disparate as the city’s conflicted past. Vjekoslav Kralj is a high‑school history teacher whose personal expression—homosexuality and transvestism—collides with a fervent, almost nostalgic Croatian nationalism, a stance he shares with his aging father, a relic of a bygone era. Across the hall, Maja Samardžić works as a nurse, carrying the weight of her own painful memories while trying to hold her family together. Her husband, Ante Samardžić, is a police officer of Serbian heritage, grappling with the practical challenges of dyslexia and the symbolic burden of proving his place in a society that still questions his loyalty.
When an unforeseen misfortune forces the quartet into reluctant proximity, tentative bridges begin to form amidst the tension of contrasting beliefs, sexual orientations, and national identities. Their interactions are marked by sharp barbs and uneasy cooperation, each conversation a small negotiation between prejudice and the yearning for connection. The looming presence of the dog‑poisoner adds a darkly comic thread, reminding everyone that danger can be both ordinary and absurd.
Against this backdrop of cramped apartments and whispered histories, the film balances biting satire with heartfelt introspection. It invites the viewer to watch as stubborn walls—both literal and figurative—start to crack, hinting at a shared humanity that may yet emerge from the tangled lives of these four unlikely neighbors.
What Happens in The Constitution?
The complete story of The Constitution, from the first scene to the last, in 720 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Four residents of a downtown Zagreb apartment building share walls, hallways, and secrets, each carrying a different background—ethnic, religious, and sexual—that makes trust feel fragile. Yet the film threads a darkly comic note through their lives: a dog poisoner lurks in the city, adding a strange undercurrent to every fragile alliance.
Vjekoslav Kralj [Nebojša Glogovac] is a high school history teacher who, despite being homosexual and a transvestite, is also a fervent Croatian nationalist who lives with his aging Ustasha father. One night, while dressed as a woman, he is beaten by hooligans and taken to hospital, where he encounters his neighbor Maja Samardžić [Ksenija Marinković], a nurse who has endured her own painful history. Maja’s husband, Ante Samardžić [Dejan Aćimović], is a police officer and ethnic Serb who struggles with a Croatian citizenship exam that he must pass—complicated by his dyslexia. When Maja volunteers to help look after Vjekoslav and his father, she declines money and instead asks him to assist Ante with the studying, forging an uneasy, tentative bridge between two households.
During their first session, Vjekoslav’s blunt disdain for Serbs and his own stubborn nationalism collide with Ante’s counterattack about homosexuals, leaving both men offended. Yet Maja insists they meet again, and she refuses to let old wounds dictate the future. She tells him that “love doesn’t pick and choose” as she shares that Ante served in the Croatian military during the Yugoslav Wars, while she had a miscarriage while pregnant. As they navigate a social worker’s interview about an adoption license, their conversations gradually reveal how much they all long to belong to something larger than the prejudice that surrounds them. Vjekoslav’s closet full of his mother’s sewing, and the Ustasha uniform he keeps, become potent symbols of a past that haunts him—moments he counters with a quiet reminiscence about the Sacred Band of Thebes.
Meanwhile, a fluttering thread remains: Ante spots the dog poisoner in a cafe window, but the figure slips away, leaving the adults to juggle fear with the daily grind. Their sessions become a mix of tense debate and surprising cooperation. When Ante presses Vjekoslav to be honest about his hatred, Vjekoslav recalls a traumatic childhood memory of Serbian police officers humiliating his mother while visiting his jailed father, and he doubles down on a vision of a Croatia that could be cleansed of non-Croats and homosexuals. Ante responds with a different memory of fear and loyalty, and the conversation shifts from confrontation to cautiously shared vulnerability. A moment of vulnerability deepens their bond: Vjekoslav opens up about his long-time lover, Bobo, and the grief of Bobo’s cancer diagnosis and suicide a year earlier.
As the days pass, tensions between neighbors soften. Vjekoslav agrees to help Ante study, even teaching a memorization trick that proves useful in their sessions. He also engages more with Maja, helping with makeup and dressing, a small act of tenderness that marks a shift in their dynamic. A drunken, reflective night finds Vjekoslav recalling Bobo and his mother, underscoring how grief still threads through his life. The trio increasingly relies on one another, and the once-tense atmosphere around identity and belonging begins to loosen.
With Vjekoslav’s support, Ante passes his exam, and with Maja’s perseverance they receive an official adoption license. Yet personal loss comes into sharper focus as Vjekoslav’s father dies. He dresses his father in his own military uniform and calls a priest, then goes outside to the bench where Bobo once shot himself. When Ante and Maja arrive, they find a priest already present, and they discover Vjekoslav on the bench, unable to go through with ending his life. They calm him and, in a quiet, hopeful moment, invite him to be their child’s godfather, a gesture he accepts with a tenderness that feels earned.
The next day, a joyful road opens before them as Maja and Ante embark on a motorbike trip to begin their new life as parents, telling Vjekoslav that they will name their child after him. The moment feels like a quiet revolution—a small family formed from a tangled web of past hurts and mutual care. Yet the final image lingers: the dog poisoner revisits the street outside, a chilling reminder that beneath the film’s warmth lies a city where old wounds can still surface in the most ordinary moments.
The Constitution Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Night attack on Vjekoslav” to “Joyful ride and closing hint”. 15 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Night attack on Vjekoslav
Vjekoslav, a high school history professor who lives with his aging father, is assaulted by hooligans while walking at night in downtown Zagreb, dressed as a woman. He is badly beaten and taken to a hospital for treatment. The incident shatters his routine and introduces the central dynamic with his neighbors.
When:Night Where:Downtown Zagreb streets; hospital soon after
- 2
Hospital encounter with Maja
In the hospital, Maja Samardžić, a nurse and neighbor, tends to him and begins to see the person behind the injury. She offers help and shows a calm, practical sympathy that contrasts with his guarded behavior. This initial meeting seeds a fragile connection that will ripple through their lives.
When:Shortly after the attack Where:Hospital, Zagreb
- 3
Maja offers help and plans to assist Ante
Maja volunteers to help care for Vjekoslav and his father, refusing to take money for her help. She also suggests assisting Ante, her husband and Vjekoslav's neighbor, with studying for his Croatian citizenship exam. Vjekoslav agrees, setting the stage for an uneasy but growing alliance.
When:Following hospital visit Where:Vjekoslav's home
- 4
First tense session and confrontations
During their first session, Vjekoslav openly expresses disdain for Serbs and the idea of them holding police positions. Ante replies with a cutting remark about homosexuals, and both men leave offended. The exchange highlights the deep-seated prejudices simmering between the neighbors.
When:Shortly after the initial meetings Where:Vjekoslav's home
- 5
Backstory revealed: service, miscarriage, and love
As they talk, Maja reveals Ante's background, including his wartime service and the fear that drove him to enlist. She shares that she had a miscarriage during pregnancy, a trauma that fuels her desire to build a family through adoption. The revelations deepen their emotional bond and vulnerability.
When:During early conversations Where:Vjekoslav's home
- 6
Adoption license meeting
Maja and Ante meet with a social worker to obtain an adoption license, a process that signals hope for a new family. Vjekoslav, though wary, becomes entangled in the process as an ally and potential godfather figure. The trio's dynamic shifts from hostility to cooperation.
When:Weeks after the attack Where:Social services office
- 7
Closet of memories and nationalist relics
Vjekoslav shows a closet filled with his mother's clothes and his father's Ustasha uniform, sparking questions about his willingness to embrace nationalist sentiment while being gay. He recounts a tale about the Sacred Band of Thebes to illustrate unconventional courage. The moment exposes the contradictions in his beliefs.
When:During early conversations Where:Vjekoslav's apartment
- 8
Dog poisoner subplot resurfaces
Ante spots the dog poisoner through a cafe window but fails to catch him, keeping the subplot alive throughout the film. The recurring, almost comical mystery mirrors the underlying paranoia and mistrust among the neighbors. The thread intersects with the more serious themes of prejudice and fear.
When:Between sessions Where:Cafe window; street
- 9
Old wounds reopen: memory of Serbian police
Vjekoslav is reminded of a traumatic childhood memory of Serbian police officers stripping him and his mother while visiting his jailed father. This memory fuels his hatred but also reveals the origins of his conflicted identity. Ante counters with a plea for broader humanity beyond ethnic divisions.
When:Flashback sequence Where:Vjekoslav's memory
- 10
Vjekoslav contemplates life and loss
The day after a heated exchange, Vjekoslav opens up about his late lover Bobo and the grief of his cancer diagnosis and suicide a year earlier. He confesses his plan to follow his lover in death once his father dies. The moment marks a pivotal shift toward vulnerability.
When:Evening Where:Vjekoslav's home
Show the other 5 events of The Constitution Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Education aid and small gains
Vjekoslav and Ante begin working more closely; he teaches Ante a memory trick to remember material, and Ante shows small but meaningful improvement. Their collaboration strengthens trust between them. Maja starts to envision a future where the three of them are more than occasional neighbors.
When:A few days later Where:Vjekoslav's home
- 12
Ante passes the exam and adoption approved
With Vjekoslav's help, Ante passes the citizenship exam, and Maja learns that they have been approved for adoption. The news marks a milestone that solidifies the new triad's stability. Yet the city's shadows linger as unresolved tensions remain.
When:Shortly after tutoring Where:Home and social services
- 13
Father's death and the bench
The next day, Vjekoslav discovers his father has died. He dresses the father in his uniform and calls a priest, then heads to the bench where his late lover Bobo shot himself. He is unable to go through with suicide, and the intervention of the others helps him regain footing.
When:Next day Where:Vjekoslav's home; bench in Zagreb
- 14
Becoming godfather
Calmed by Maja and Ante, Vjekoslav agrees to be the godfather of the couple's future child. The scene marks a thaw in the relationships that once divided them and signals a potential, if uneasy, family unity. The trio embraces a shared responsibility that transcends past animosities.
When:That evening Where:Park bench near apartment
- 15
Joyful ride and closing hint
The following day, Maja and Ante celebrate with a motorcycle trip to mark their upcoming parenthood, telling Vjekoslav they'll name the child after him. They ride off in happiness, but the camera lingers on the street where the dog poisoner still moves, suggesting unresolved danger beneath the surface. Time and memory linger as life continues in Zagreb.
When:Next day Where:Street; city
Who Are the Main Characters in The Constitution?
3 characters, among them Vjekoslav Kralj (Nebojša Glogovac), Ante Samardžić (Dejan Aćimović) and Maja Samardžić (Ksenija Marinković): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- VK
Vjekoslav Kralj (Nebojša Glogovac)
Played by Nebojša Glogovac
A high school history professor who is openly homosexual and a transvestite, yet staunchly nationalist due to his father’s influence. He struggles with hatred toward Serbs while revealing vulnerability through memories of love, loss, and a contemplated suicide. His complex identity and personal history drive the conflicts that unfold with his neighbors.
- 🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+
- 🗺️ Nationalism
- 💔 Trauma
- 🤝 Complex relationships
- AS
Ante Samardžić (Dejan Aćimović)
Played by Dejan Aćimović
A police officer married to Maja, he is an ethnic Serb navigating a Croatian citizenship exam and his own dyslexia. He becomes entangled in tensions with Vjekoslav, while showing commitment to his wife and attempts to move forward in a society shaped by memory of war. His actions oscillate between loyalty, frustration, and the urge for understanding.
- 👮♂️ Law and order
- 🗺️ Interethnic tension
- 🧠 Dyslexia
- 💔 Marital strain
- MS
Maja Samardžić (Ksenija Marinković)
Played by Ksenija Marinković
A nurse and neighbor who helps Vjekoslav’s father and becomes involved in Vjekoslav’s life. She carries the weight of a miscarriage and pursues adoption as a path to family, offering compassion and practical support. Her empathy drives the bond that gradually transforms the neighbors’ relationships.
- 🤝 Compassion
- 🏥 Caregiving
- 👪 Family building
- 💡 Empathy
Where and When Is The Constitution Set?
The Constitution is set in Downtown Zagreb and Croatia (Early 21st century). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Early 21st century
Set in contemporary Croatia, the narrative unfolds in present-day Zagreb. It weaves everyday urban life with the lingering memories of the Yugoslav Wars that shape attitudes and relationships. The setting captures a society negotiating national identity, assimilation, and personal freedom.
Where
Downtown Zagreb, Croatia
The story unfolds in a single apartment building in downtown Zagreb, reflecting a dense urban environment where neighbors live in close proximity yet harbor mistrust. The city provides a backdrop for clashes of ethnicity, sexuality, and politics that inform the characters’ choices. Its modern Croatian setting anchors the film’s exploration of personal and social conflict.
- 🏙️ Urban
- 🌐 Multicultural
- ⚖️ Tension
- 🧭 Civic Life
What Are the Themes of The Constitution?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity, Prejudice and Grief.
-
01
Identity
The film centers on private identities—LGBTQ life and nontraditional relationships—against the pull of public nationalism. Vjekoslav’s self-presentation, past trauma, and the reactions of others reveal how personal truth can clash with cultural norms. The story uses intimate moments to examine acceptance, vulnerability, and the costs of hiding who you are.
-
02
Prejudice
Prejudice threads through conversations about Serbs, Croats, and the police, highlighting how stereotypes fuel fear and hostility. Characters confront the ways history and ideology shape present actions and judgments. The film suggests that bigotry compromises empathy, even as individuals seek connection.
-
03
Grief
Trauma and bereavement drive much of the characters' decisions, from Bobo’s death to the looming threat of self-harm. Grief informs coping strategies, guilt, and the impulse toward despair. The story tracks moments of heartbreak that gradually yield possibilities for care.
-
04
Chosen family
Facing social isolation, Maja and Ante become more than neighbors to Vjekoslav, forming a surrogate family. Their evolving bond helps Vjekoslav confront his hatred and find a path toward connection and responsibility. Adoption and godparent promises symbolize rebuilding trust across divisions.
What Kind of Film Is The Constitution?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A steady-paced, somber yet hopeful drama where neighbors burdened by prejudice and personal trauma gradually build cautious bridges of understanding, finding solace in an unlikely community.
- somber
- hopeful
- reflective
- tense
- grieving
- cautiously optimistic
- prejudice
- found family
- grief and loss
- reconciliation
Content notes: suicide, homophobic violence, terminal illness, animal cruelty.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Constitution? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch The Constitution
Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and MovieMe. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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