Good People' Review: Milcho Manchevski's Haunting Documentary Revisits the Kočani Nightclub Fire Through Survivors' Eyes

Milcho Manchevski’s documentary “Good People,” which premiered in Sarajevo’s Golden Lion competition, revisits the March 16, 2025 Pulse nightclub fire in Kočani, North Macedonia, through survivors’ accounts. The film centers on a tragedy that injured hundreds and killed 63 people, with victims exposed to burn damage, smoke inhalation, and other trauma while fleeing through the venue’s only exit. According to the review, the club had one fire extinguisher, a highly flammable ceiling, and exceeded its 250-person capacity by about double, with most attendees aged 16 to 25. Running 86 minutes, the documentary uses scoreless interviews with minimal visual embellishment and includes rare phone-recorded moments showing the initial spark and outside views obscured by smoke.