It is absolutely a travesty to call this movie superficial, a word used by one of the reviewers. It is anything but superficial. You may feel justified to call it boring, but that is only because your intellectual or emotional faculty has not reached the high level that is required to fully appreciate this film. But to call it superficial? Come on, what word should we use to describe the great majority of Hollywood and even international movies then?
I think the director of this art-house film deserves several special recognitions. First of all, the long shot of the wild landscape of Serbia and the use of the ambient sound of nature make this movie truly unique and powerful at the same time. From scenes of nature, we can deeply understand the feeling of the protagonist and the general mood of the story. Next, although several scenes in the film come dangerously close to become excessively long and self-indulgent, the director manages to maintain the focus of the movie and to let those scenes serve their intended purpose, which is to give the movie more depth and thought. Last but not the least, this Serbian film is realist cinema at its best. Every scene is raw, authentic and suffused with realism. It is almost a documentary with very believable actors and storyline. The sequence on the bus where shades of sunlight is reflected through the trees outside and onto the character's face is a prime example of realist film-making.
Fortunately for me and many other audiences who appreciate realist cinema, the director did not make the mistake that many Hollywood directors have made, which is to give the movie a happy ending. Its ending is profoundly sad, but it feels real.
I think the director of this art-house film deserves several special recognitions. First of all, the long shot of the wild landscape of Serbia and the use of the ambient sound of nature make this movie truly unique and powerful at the same time. From scenes of nature, we can deeply understand the feeling of the protagonist and the general mood of the story. Next, although several scenes in the film come dangerously close to become excessively long and self-indulgent, the director manages to maintain the focus of the movie and to let those scenes serve their intended purpose, which is to give the movie more depth and thought. Last but not the least, this Serbian film is realist cinema at its best. Every scene is raw, authentic and suffused with realism. It is almost a documentary with very believable actors and storyline. The sequence on the bus where shades of sunlight is reflected through the trees outside and onto the character's face is a prime example of realist film-making.
Fortunately for me and many other audiences who appreciate realist cinema, the director did not make the mistake that many Hollywood directors have made, which is to give the movie a happy ending. Its ending is profoundly sad, but it feels real.