Dečko, dama, kreten, drot
Boy, Lady, Jerk, Drot (2005), the final part of the trilogy that began with Tequila and Apaurin Concert (2002) and continued with Blue Bar Dancer (2004), is a satirical and melancholic story about the criminal milieu of contemporary Croatia.
Through monologues and cuts, the fates of the four main characters – the titular "Boy", "Dame", "Kretna" and "Drota" – intertwine, symbolizing the tragicomic Croatian reality: losers, betrayals and the inability to adapt to new times. Inspired by crime stories and films such as Taxi Driver, the novel criticizes mafia patterns, media sensationalism and emotional voids.
Boy (Niko, former BBB Niko): A former criminal on probation after prison in Lepoglava, his disoriented return to everyday life reveals changes in friendships. A former idealist from the 1980s, now a loser-observer, faces the betrayal of his friend Darko, who has become a pimp. His monologues are full of nostalgia for lost youth and moral dilemmas.
Lady (Maša, Ukrainian, dancer from the Blue Bar): A prostitute who runs away from a nightclub and changes her identity. Her melancholic story reveals dreams of a better life, love with Fola and the tragedy of ill-considered decisions. With her figure, Popović shows a rare sensitivity towards female vulnerability in a male world of violence.
The Idiot (Darko): Niko's former friend, now a mafia actor and pimp, symbolizes a complete transformation and betrayal of old values. From a mutual support for De Niro to the role of antagonist, his fate ends in a bloody showdown, emphasizing the loss of friendships.
The Cop (Mladen Folo, head of the Department for Cultural Terrorism): An intellectual in the police forces, he fights against the intrigues of his superiors and media manipulation. In love with Maša, he becomes her protector and antihero, liquidating Darko motivated by love and disgust. His action, presented as collective, leaves him in a void, dreaming of the literature that will make his story immortal.
The plot culminates in the Blue Bar: Niko's confrontation with Darko, Masha's escape and Fol's act of revenge merge into a chaotic showdown. The novel ends with a reflection on the difference between life and literature, celebrating the layered characters caught in the web of fate. Popović combines humor, irony and lyrics, criticizing social changes and celebrating the "beautiful losers" of the eighties.
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