Milcho Manchevski's 'Sister Brother Manhole Cover' to World Premiere in Tokyo

Milcho Manchevski's new feature "Sister Brother Manhole Cover" will world premiere in the main competition of the Tokyo International Film Festival. The trailer debuted on Tuesday.

Francesca Breccia's Coccinelle Film Sales handles the film and will begin selling it to international buyers during Busan's Asian Contents & Film Market.

Manchevski wrote and directed the dark comedy. It centers on Malina and Viktor, a sister and brother scraping by at the edges of Macedonian society. To survive, the pair steal bronze busts and manhole covers — with plenty of attitude. Their chaotic path eventually leads them to a wealthy elderly blind woman whose mix of hardness and kindness forces them to examine their own sense of right and wrong, and what devotion to another person means.

"Our anti-heroes defiantly refuse to identify as victims," Manchevski said.

Sara Klimoska and Filip Trajkovikj lead the cast, with Sonja Mihajlova also on board. Jane Kortoshev produces.

"I was interested in telling a story of great love and unconditional acceptance that is not erotic," Manchevski said.

The Macedonian filmmaker first drew international attention with "Before the Rain," which won the Golden Lion at Venice in 1994, along with the Fipresci Prize, and went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for best foreign-language film. His later features include "Dust," which screened as Venice's opening-night film, as well as "Mothers" and "Willow."

The Tokyo selection marks a return for Manchevski. His previous feature, "Kaymak," also bowed in the festival's competition as a world premiere.

With its trailer now public and sales launching at Busan, "Sister Brother Manhole Cover" will test whether Manchevski's festival pedigree can carry a stripped-down Macedonian dark comedy to international distributors when it premieres in Tokyo.