Documentary-Art Film about Karel Destovnik – Kajuh (December 13, 1922 – February 22, 1944). This documentary-art film is dedicated to the life and work of one of the most important Slovenian poets. His poetry was deeply marked by social themes, resistance, and love for his homeland.

Karel Destovnik – Kajuh was born in the Hotel Jugoslavija in the town of Šoštanj. He was a bright and curious boy who never found school to be a burden. The environment around him soon led him to reflect on the injustices happening in the world. At the age of eleven, he began attending the Celje grammar school, though his heart remained in the streets of Šoštanj, where he met many friends and experienced his first love. He was a talented athlete, actor, and reciter. Wherever he went—from Celje, Maribor, a camp in Serbian Ivanjica, a prison in Šmartno near Slovenj Gradec, or the hills of Zasavje—he always returned to his beloved Šoštanj. He longed for his hometown as an underground activist in Ljubljana and later as a partisan. With the 14th Division, he fought his way for over a month in inhumane conditions toward Štajerska and Šoštanj, which he had not seen for two and a half years. But an enemy bullet ended his life just short of his goal—barely two hours from his home, his mother, and his father.

The spirit of this great Slovenian poet and national hero remains in Šoštanj but also lives on in the consciousness of the entire Slovenian nation.

"Listen Closely to Hear the Voices" is a documentary-artistic film that offers a broader view of the time—covering the historical context, political climate, economic conditions, development of education, and the activities of cultural associations. It vividly portrays the wartime period while intertwining it with the story of the Destovnik family, through which we follow the coming-of-age of Karel Destovnik – Kajuh. We witness his intellectual, cultural, emotional, and poetic development—all of which echo in his poetry.

Actor Marko Mandić lends his voice to Kajuh’s poetry, allowing viewers to feel the poet’s emotions and his worldview. Musician Joži Šalej enriches the narrative and expert commentary with original interpretations of the era’s music. All contributors to the film, led by director Peter Vrčkovnik, originate from the Šalek Valley and have grown up with Kajuh’s legacy, giving the film an especially heartfelt and personal tone.

Duration: 72 minutes