''Dancing in Water'' ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Bal na vodi, Бал на води) is a 1986

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

n romantic-drama film directed by Jovan Aćin. In America it frequently shows under the title ''Hey Babu Riba''. The screenplay is by Jovan Aćin, from the memories of Petar Janković, George Zecevic and Mr. Aćin with music by

Zoran Simjanović Zoran Simjanović (; 11 May 1946 – 11 April 2021) was a Serbian and Yugoslav musician, composer and music educator. Simjanović started his career in 1961, as the keyboardist for the rock band Siluete. In 1962, he moved to the band Elipse, w ...

Plot

The death of the one-time

coxswain The coxswain ( or ) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from ''cock'', referring to the wiktionary:cockboat, cockboat, a ...

of a Serbian

rowing Rowing is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using the sweeping motions of oars to displace water and generate reactional propulsion. Rowing is functionally similar to paddling, but rowing requires oars to be mechanically a ...

crew precipitates their reunion at her funeral. They called her 'Esther' in post-war Yugoslavia a generation ago, but they haven't seen her since her father forbade contact at that time, shortly after they helped her escape Yugoslavia to re-unite with him. Now that she is gone the way is clear for them to be together again and perhaps to see her child, whom they've never met. Flashbacks return us to those days where they forged enduring friendships against the backdrop of the struggle between Communist and American ideals in Tito's

. The "four" are fascinated by American music and styles, while their rival rowing team is led by a competitor for Esther's affections, a rising member in the Communist elite who bears tattoos of Stalin and Lenin on his wrists. Each of the four harbored a secret passion for Esther's inspiring beauty. The first modestly allows that he can't tell her what he feels. The next tempts her heart with poetry. Glenn then confesses his love in drunken confidence that he shrugs off as a joke. The last swaggers that it's obvious they are a couple and the rest will understand eventually. But Esther reminds each of them in turn that the five of them are "a four." Despite the shock when she finds herself with child by an outsider, they spirit her across the water to her father's protective embrace. Assuming their complicity in her fall from grace, he peremptorily strikes them from her life.

Inspirations

Evidently part of the story is based on the life of , who was jailed for flaunting a

Mickey Mouse Mickey Mouse is an American cartoon character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime icon and mascot of the Walt Disney Company, Mickey is an anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red shorts, large shoes, and white ...

tattoo A tattoo is a form of body modification made by inserting tattoo ink, dyes, or pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. Tattoo artists create these designs using several tattooing processes ...

during the period of the film. The American title ''Hey Babu Riba'' has nothing to do with the original title and comes from the brief appearance in the film of a recording of

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and bandleader. He worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, an ...

's " Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop". Esther's character is an homage to

Esther Williams Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Ol ...

whose music from ''

Bathing Beauty ''Bathing Beauty'' is a 1944 American Musical film, musical romantic comedy film directed by George Sidney, and starring Red Skelton and Esther Williams. Although this was not Williams' screen debut, it was her first Technicolor musical. The f ...

'' is a main tune in the movie.

Cast

* Gala Videnović - Esther * Nebojša Bakočević - Glen *

Relja Bašić Relja Bašić (14 February 1930 – 7 April 2017) was a Croatian actor. With a career that lasted more than half a century, he is considered one of the most prolific performers of that country. Biography Bašić was born on 14 February 1930 i ...

- Glen (older) *

Dragan Bjelogrlić Dragan "Bjela" Bjelogrlić ( sr-Cyrl, Драган "Бјела" Бјелогрлић, ; born 10 October 1963) is a Serbian actor, director and producer. Career Bjelogrlić made his acting debut as a 15-year old, playing Sava Jovanović Sirogojn ...

- Sacha * Marko Todorović - Sacha (older) *

Srđan Todorović Srđan "Žika" Todorović ( sr-cyr, Срђан "Жика" Тодоровић, ; born 28 March 1965) is a Serbian actor and musician. He has played in numerous bands, including Ekatarina Velika, Disciplina Kičme, Radnička Kontrola and Bezobr ...

- Kica *

Miloš Žutić Miloš Žutić (16 November 1939 – 30 August 1993) was a Serbian actor. He appeared in more than one hundred films from 1960 to 1992. Selected filmography References External links * 1939 births 1993 deaths Male actors from B ...

- Kica (older) *

Goran Radaković Goran "Goki" Radaković ( sr-cyr, Горан Радаковић: born 11 July 1964) is a Serbian actor. He appeared in more than fifty films since 1978. Selected filmography References External links * 1964 births Living people Mal ...

- Pop * Đorđe Nenadović - Pop (older) * Milan Štrljić - Rile *

Dragomir Bojanić Dragomir Bojanić ( sr-cyrl, Драгомир Бојанић; 13 June 1933 – 11 November 1993), also known by his nickname Gidra, was a Serbian actor. In several Italian films he was credited as Anthony Ghidra. His roles include Kondor, Ge ...

- Rile (older) * Danica Maksimović - Rada švercerka * Marko Nikolić - Rile (older - voice)

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0091200

- Roger Ebert

Hey Babu Riba Capsule, Jonathan Rosenbaum, ''The Chicago Reader'' 1986 films Serbo-Croatian-language films Yugoslav coming-of-age films 1986 romantic drama films Serbian coming-of-age films Serbian romantic drama films Rowing films Films set in Belgrade Films scored by Zoran Simjanović