The Balkan Line

Balkan Line (Balkanskiy rubezh) is a film aimed at more serious viewers. It depicts events similar to those that actually took place in the former Yugoslavia. Although mostly action and warlike, the film captures the emotional side of the event, but in a serious and realistic way. Overall, the film manages to excel in all aspects, leaving a strong impression on the viewer.

Truly great to see the other perspective than presented in MSM or Hollywood

Fantastic movie portraying Albanian atrocities they refuse to admit. Don't listen to all the one star reviews, it's Albanian propaganda trying to hid their crimes.

Ok, let's start with the positive. The film's photography and visuals are incredible. The cinematography is awesome. The story was interesting enough, and I really cared about the characters. The film has a good antagonist you simply can't help but hate (and boy, did he get what he deserved!)

Now my issues with the film. There are too many characters and therefore also too many back stories. Constant inter-cutting between scenes happening simultaneously was annoying and confusing. (It might be clearer with a second viewing). Showing scenes out of sequence further added to the confusion. There's also a lot of scenes that could - and probably should - have ended on the Cutting Room floor instead. This would have ensured a shorter runtime resulting in a faster paced film.

Based on fact, they just couldn't resist adding a fictional - and dare I say unnecessary - love story. *rolling my eyes*. In the end it was all good, though. The film's final hour is a spectacular thrill ride filled with action and suspense, and great visuals.

Whilst it was not the Siege at Jadotville per se, it brought a lot of other qualities to the screen. Some solid acting, albeit a bit more Russian than to my liking (you know, though as nails, wrestling a bear kind) the action sequences were spot on. I also like it very much when violence is unpredictable. It is in real life too. The horror of war lies in its unpredictability, the randomness with which the dead and alive are chosen. The backstories are ok, and yes there is some propaganda and Russian flagwaving in it. Just compare it to some of the American movies where everything is stars and stripes, I always take them with a ton of salt, too.

In war there is no good side, only losers. These heroes are the ones that took a loss too, for their beliefs, their family, their comrades. And everyone can feel for them, for there is a little hero in all of us. And we dream of one day being meaningful, too.

I like this better than the superhero movies of late. This type of film is a bit more mature, grim but not to the point where it gets unbelievable horror. It is a bit unrealistic in it's premises, but so was the fish my neighbour caught the other day. It still made for a great story.

I'm beginning to like Russian cinema, Belly Tigr,from 2012, also had this strange but likable feel. Doom lures, but we live on nonetheless. We accept fate but keep on trying even against all odds. It's a cultural thing, it must be.