Underground (1995)

The story follows an underground weapons manufacturer in Belgrade during WWII and evolves into fairly surreal situations. A black marketeer who smuggles the weapons to partisans doesn't ... See full summary »

Director:

Emir Kusturica

Writers:

Dusan Kovacevic (story), Emir Kusturica (screenplay)

Stars:

Predrag Manojlovic, Lazar Ristovski, Mirjana Jokovic

5 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Predrag Manojlovic	...	Marko / Actor playing Marko (as Miki Manojlovic)
Lazar Ristovski	...	Crni (Blacky) / Actor playing Blacky
Mirjana Jokovic	...	Natalija / Actress playing Natalija
Slavko Stimac	...	Ivan
Ernst Stötzner	...	Franz / Actor playing Franz
Srdjan Todorovic	...	Jovan
Mirjana Karanovic	...	Vera
Milena Pavlovic	...	Jelena
Danilo 'Bata' Stojkovic	...	Deda (as Bata Stojkovic)
Bora Todorovic	...	Golub
Davor Dujmovic	...	Bata
Nele Karajlic	...	Falling Gypsy (as Dr. Nele Karajlic)
Branislav Lecic	...	Mustafa
Dragan Nikolic	...	Film Director
Erol Kadic	...	Janez

Storyline

The story follows an underground weapons manufacturer in Belgrade during WWII and evolves into fairly surreal situations. A black marketeer who smuggles the weapons to partisans doesn't mention to the workers that the war is over, and they keep producing. Years later, they break out of their underground "shelter" --- only to convince themselves that the war is still going on.

---

Plot Keywords:

weapon | yugoslavia | love | shelter | partisan | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia France Germany Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary

Language:

Serbian German French English Russian

Release Date:

20 June 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Once Upon a Time There Was a Country

Filming Locations:

AB Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic

Company Credits

Production Co:

CiBy 2000, Barrandov Studios, Komuna

Technical Specs

Runtime:

170 min 320 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1996, members of the Yugoslavian Board of the Academy of Film Art and Science (AFUN) voted this film the third best Serbian movie made in 1947-1995 period.

---

Quotes

Marko: A war is no war until the brother kills his brother.

---

Connections

Featured in Special Collector's Edition: Underground (2013)

---

Soundtracks

"Symphony Nº3 Organ"
Written by Camille Saint-Saëns(I)

User Reviews

Brilliant Cracking Thriller!!......

Those who have seen "Underground" have probably noticed that we are not watching one film but a collection of at least 10 films in one single masterpiece!!

I watched with great enthusiasm the work of Kusturica after "Underground" in films like "Arizona Dream" or "Black Cat White Cat" films which prove to be more elaborate and "smoother" in terms of direction (brilliant works as well!!) but none of these films could ever equal the "nerve" and strength of a very young Kusturica at his best! One could see the passion and boldness that is at stake in this motion picture. It's as if he gambled his own life doing "Underground"

How else can you describe this work of art if not a mixture of devilish and holy images that take the shape of a flawless piece of theater-dance!!

The actors speak, dance and create (more than interpret) with a vigor rarely found outside the Balkan Circle!

In terms of theatrical aesthetics the film incorporates Stanislavski( realism at its best), Brecht (at certain points the actors step out of their roles and mock at themselves) and Artaud (they are flames more than humans)

Needless to say more!

Shocking, raw, heart-breaking!!

One of the most beautiful I have ever seen! 10/10