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valentina_miskovska
Reviews
Welcome to Sarajevo (1997)
Truth or Holiwood move
I saw the film many times, and every time I am more and more disappointed,which is shame because the films from EX YU are usually very good. The shame here is, that Holiwood tried to make film about the place and people it has no idea. My self coming from the Balkans(Macedonia) found this film disappointing.Simply that the Bosnian characters are not really understood and not truly portrayed. To understand the mentality of a person from EX YU, you need to know their background, way of live, what makes them cry and laugh.And the director of the film didn't took that as guideline. When we(EX YU) make films, lots of symbolism is build in it, which makes the characters recognisable and likable, and mostly portraying the truth(if it is based on true story) The films like "Pritty village, pretty flame", "Tito and Me', "Underground',"No mans land', "Before the Rain","Black cat, white cat","Otac na sluzbenom putu",(When father was away on business),"Ko to tamo peva"(Who sings over there?)Rare the masterpiece of the Balkan cinematography,and nothing can compare to it. Not the half baked story of and Holiwood studio. As somebody from the panel mentioned the story jumps from one end of town to the other with no real connection. I am sorry but when the film is made is not only for the American armchair variety of viewers but for the rest of the World too, and some of them live on the Balkans and Sarajevo too. And to add insult to the injury, half of the things are shoot in Bitola ,Macedonia where I come from. Imagen my shock when I saw the Broad st. of Bitola in the opening scene of the film, when the bride is shoot from the sniper.And what was that inserting real footage of the news covering in the film? Anyway very disappointing, as the truth is far away from the film. Shame that nobody consulted the real people how is to live in Sarajevo under fire, before they shoot the film. book is one thing and real life is other, and this film lets down both.
Zona Zamfirova (2002)
Great book, poor move
Stevan Stremac "Zona Zamfirova" is my favourite book, and to be honest I know the book by hart. You can imagine my delight,when I heard that it will be film made by the book.i couldn't wait to come out. As it happened I made sure I am in Belgrade for the Opening Nite.What a disappointment!!! The actors where good at doing their lines, but the real Zone(from the book) has blond hair and Mane is taller. As for Doka the one of the main characters, she is totally different type of person. The actress which plays Doka, tried and brought Doka to life but not the "real"Doka. The only properly casted characters are Hadzi Zamfir and his wife. I was totally disappointed with the execution of the film. Also the sweep of the camera, as there was lots of 21st centuries features in the takes.But we are talking about NIsh in the XIX century. Parts of the book were totally cut out but they are crucial to understanding the romance between Mane and Zone. The only thing I liked where the costumes and the music, although half of the songs in the book are not featured. All in all very poor film made of a brilliant book.It is a shame, as another Stremac book (Pop Chira i Pop Spira)was made into a serial some 25yrs ago with Djordje and Olja Balashevich(and they are not actors, Dj.Balashevich is well known singer in ex YU)and to this day is considered one of the best film/serial of Stremac's books.