If this film was made 10 years ago, maybe it would have worked. If it was taped as a theater play, maybe it would work. Made as a feature film, it doesn't work in any way.
For starters, the production for this film looks terrible. It looks like a TV film most of the time. Direction is awful. Everything looks like it was shot in first take. Editing is often slow and often nonexistent (too many shots that go nowhere). Cinematography is awful. Scenes are either overexposed ("in your face" and without subtlety) or underexposed (boring and too subtle). It's like the camera was turned on and left running without anyone behind it. Everything looks gray, lifeless and dull. Sound often cuts off or is completely unintelligible (but this is a common problem in ex YU films).
However, all this wouldn't be so bad if the screenplay was any good in the first place (considering who wrote it, it had to be). Unfortunately, screenplay and story are the biggest flaws in this film.
First off, the characters are incredibly stupid and completely stereotypical (dumbass Belgradians in their high heals, get to see what real horror is). However, even that wouldn't be so bad if the characters ever had a chance to develop. Changes in them do come throughout the movie, but they are obviously forced (all of a sudden a character has learned a lesson). Even that could have worked if the characters weren't completely lifeless and if they ever got the chance to show their individuality. In the end, the audience can't really care about any of them (unless a cinema-goer likes a certain actor or actress). Actors (and actresses) do an awful job here. They are not even trying most of the time. Often, they just look confused, or they put on their "serious acting expressions" for a scene, and then they go back to being idle again. Most of the characters here, have no real purpose, except to be used for a five minute scene at some point, to force the stupid plot further. Plot is terrible from the start, and then it gets worse and dumber by a minute (gee, our driver is off; let's walk through a war zone in the middle of the night, 'cause we can't wait for him). Also, the movie can't make up it's mind if it is a character piece, or a moral story. Dialogs in the movie show that there was an idea behind this mess, but they are terribly executed most of the time, and often just turn out stupid, crude or unnecessary.
This is a dark comedy, but a fifteen year-old could write better jokes. (a thirteen year-old probably wrote these). The war scenes that should teach us something are ridiculous, superficial, forced, over the top or dull and pointless ("in your face" instant morals get old pretty fast).
There are only three saving graces here (therefore the stars). One: The first scene at Jackson's (one time that character Lale is actually funny) concluding with Ljubic's nationalistic poem. Two: Jelena Djokic, who actually tried to act out the ridiculous script. And three: The noble effort with some good ideas to make an anti-war movie, that somewhere along the lines, went terribly stupid (and wrong).
This script should have been made ten years ago, when it actually mattered (like Bure Baruta a.k.a. The Powder Keg), and when the crew was still in their top form. Unfortunately it got staled in the meantime and the crew with it.
If you want a good (forgoten) anti-war ex YU film, forget this mess, and try Pun mesec nad Beogradom (Full Moon Over Belgrade) (if you can find it).
3/10
For starters, the production for this film looks terrible. It looks like a TV film most of the time. Direction is awful. Everything looks like it was shot in first take. Editing is often slow and often nonexistent (too many shots that go nowhere). Cinematography is awful. Scenes are either overexposed ("in your face" and without subtlety) or underexposed (boring and too subtle). It's like the camera was turned on and left running without anyone behind it. Everything looks gray, lifeless and dull. Sound often cuts off or is completely unintelligible (but this is a common problem in ex YU films).
However, all this wouldn't be so bad if the screenplay was any good in the first place (considering who wrote it, it had to be). Unfortunately, screenplay and story are the biggest flaws in this film.
First off, the characters are incredibly stupid and completely stereotypical (dumbass Belgradians in their high heals, get to see what real horror is). However, even that wouldn't be so bad if the characters ever had a chance to develop. Changes in them do come throughout the movie, but they are obviously forced (all of a sudden a character has learned a lesson). Even that could have worked if the characters weren't completely lifeless and if they ever got the chance to show their individuality. In the end, the audience can't really care about any of them (unless a cinema-goer likes a certain actor or actress). Actors (and actresses) do an awful job here. They are not even trying most of the time. Often, they just look confused, or they put on their "serious acting expressions" for a scene, and then they go back to being idle again. Most of the characters here, have no real purpose, except to be used for a five minute scene at some point, to force the stupid plot further. Plot is terrible from the start, and then it gets worse and dumber by a minute (gee, our driver is off; let's walk through a war zone in the middle of the night, 'cause we can't wait for him). Also, the movie can't make up it's mind if it is a character piece, or a moral story. Dialogs in the movie show that there was an idea behind this mess, but they are terribly executed most of the time, and often just turn out stupid, crude or unnecessary.
This is a dark comedy, but a fifteen year-old could write better jokes. (a thirteen year-old probably wrote these). The war scenes that should teach us something are ridiculous, superficial, forced, over the top or dull and pointless ("in your face" instant morals get old pretty fast).
There are only three saving graces here (therefore the stars). One: The first scene at Jackson's (one time that character Lale is actually funny) concluding with Ljubic's nationalistic poem. Two: Jelena Djokic, who actually tried to act out the ridiculous script. And three: The noble effort with some good ideas to make an anti-war movie, that somewhere along the lines, went terribly stupid (and wrong).
This script should have been made ten years ago, when it actually mattered (like Bure Baruta a.k.a. The Powder Keg), and when the crew was still in their top form. Unfortunately it got staled in the meantime and the crew with it.
If you want a good (forgoten) anti-war ex YU film, forget this mess, and try Pun mesec nad Beogradom (Full Moon Over Belgrade) (if you can find it).
3/10