The Thing To Be Done - with the director in attendance

The Thing To Be Done

dir. Srđan Kovačević; Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia; 2025; 88 min

Winner of awards at DOK Leipzig and Belgrade’s Beldocs festival, The Thing To Be Done reveals the hidden side of a Europe built on cheap labour, exploitation, and coercion, while also highlighting the perseverance of those who refuse to accept such conditions as normal. A former electrician, a social worker, and a trade union activist join forces in what seems like an impossible mission. As contemporary Europe increasingly relies on low-paid migrant labour, workers in search of a better life often find themselves accepting poor working conditions, excessive overtime, makeshift accommodation in shipping containers, employer intimidation, and the erosion of their dignity.

For many of them, Laura Orel, Goran Lukić, Goran Zrnić and their Workers’ Counselling Centre are the only place to turn—their only allies. Whether they come from the Balkans, Africa, or Asia, migrant workers arrive at this remarkable organisation every day seeking help: deceived, hungry, unpaid, and stripped of hope for a better future.

More than a story of struggle, this documentary is a testament to selfless solidarity and the enduring fight for workers’ rights. At a time when the odds seem stacked against them, the film offers a glimmer of hope—a powerful reminder that collective action can still pave the way towards justice. Following his acclaimed documentary Factory to the Workers (2021), Srđan Kovačević once again turns his attention to labour, rights, and solidarity, this time through the everyday reality of a counselling centre where people do exactly what the title suggests—what needs to be done.

The film will be presented by director Srđan Kovačević in a post-screening discussion.

TICKETS: €4.20 for Friends Club members / €6 regular price

Available online and at the House of Arts Arsen box office.

Friends Club members can claim their discount at physical points of sale upon presentation of a valid membership card.