Emir Kusturica, in addition to directing influential films (such as When Father Was Away on Business and Time of the Gypsies), has always had a strong affinity to music - and this is evident in his films with Goran Bregović's music. In 1986, he also joined Zabranjeno Pušenje (No Smoking), a rock band that was a star turn in Yugoslavia. It split in the 1990s, but was partly revived as No Smoking Orchestra. Then, after the 1998 soundtrack to Black Cat, White Cat was a hit, Kusturica returned and took over control. The director, who is also friends with Manu Chao, has mixed a "Manu-like" music cocktail for his band, but of course with Balkan ingredients. Between the release of 2000's Unza Unza Time and their latest studio album, 2018's Corps Diplomatique, No Smoking has entertained audiences with more film scores, concept albums (such as 2007's punk opera Time of the Gypsies) and, of course, crowd-pleasing concerts. The line-up can change, the palette can become more varied, recently including Latin influences in addition to Southern European flavours, but the No Smoking Orchestra always turns up both the volume and the heat.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest