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DVD Description
"Brilliantly Made, Intensely Dramatic... Very Moving" - The Guardian
Stephen Dillane is British journalist Michael Henderson, who decides to risk everything to help the innocent people of a besieged city. With support from the flamboyant 'star' American journalist, Flynn (Woody Harrelson), and aid worker, Nina (Marisa Tomei), Henderson embarks on a perilous and terrifying journey to evacuate the city's orphan children to safety.
The film is inspired by the true story of ITV news reporter Michael Nicholson, who after months of reporting on the siege of Sarajevo, smuggled a child out of the war-torn city and later adopted her. However, the film is much more that a story of… more » one man's personal act of compassion, it is a harrowing and moving tribute to a city that refused to give in.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I would have to say that I agree with both the reviewer who criticised this film and the person who praised it. It is very atmospheric and the actors from the former Yugoslavia aquit themselves very well. The soundtrack is good and the use of actual footage from the war is quite effective. The war in Bosnia was a tradegy in every sense of the word and this film helps convey that.
BUT the critical viewer is correct in saying that it is an oversimplification of what happened during the Balkans. I have studied the wars of the former Yugoslavia and have travelled there three times. It was a much more complex affair than 'Baddie Serbs vs Good guy Bosniaks'. One scene in the film which I took exception to was the part where the female journalist returns from the 'concentration camp'. The famous image of the emaciated Bosniak prisoner is shown and we are left to make the link to the atrocities of the Nazi's. In actual fact, as has been demonstrated by numerous scholars, that famous footage was shot in a disengenous fashion by the TV news crew that day. The one extremely thin man in that REFUGEE CAMP was not standing behind barbed wire in captivity, the film crew positioned themselves behind the razor wire and never made the full story clear. That image however was instrumental in gathering public support for American airstrikes against the Serbs. Now I am not defending the Serb Army but I am trying to explain that that news story and the repetition of it's myth in this film is part of a re-writing of history which served to justify the larger American/ European strategy regarding the former Yugoslavia. A strategy which certainly did not have the interests of any of the Balkan peoples at it's heart.
If we can learn anything from this film it is the obvious futility and waste of war.
BUT the critical viewer is correct in saying that it is an oversimplification of what happened during the Balkans. I have studied the wars of the former Yugoslavia and have travelled there three times. It was a much more complex affair than 'Baddie Serbs vs Good guy Bosniaks'. One scene in the film which I took exception to was the part where the female journalist returns from the 'concentration camp'. The famous image of the emaciated Bosniak prisoner is shown and we are left to make the link to the atrocities of the Nazi's. In actual fact, as has been demonstrated by numerous scholars, that famous footage was shot in a disengenous fashion by the TV news crew that day. The one extremely thin man in that REFUGEE CAMP was not standing behind barbed wire in captivity, the film crew positioned themselves behind the razor wire and never made the full story clear. That image however was instrumental in gathering public support for American airstrikes against the Serbs. Now I am not defending the Serb Army but I am trying to explain that that news story and the repetition of it's myth in this film is part of a re-writing of history which served to justify the larger American/ European strategy regarding the former Yugoslavia. A strategy which certainly did not have the interests of any of the Balkan peoples at it's heart.
If we can learn anything from this film it is the obvious futility and waste of war.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although not an overview of the conflict this film retains the clostrophobia of the city scape it is mainly set and the siege both in the caracters personnel lives and in the world around them. A great film and a brilliant soundtrack.
1 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a difficult film to watch but i was hoping it would be worthwhile. Unfortunately it is ridiculously one sided and very anti Serbian. I expected better from this director.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very Naive Portrayal of the war in Bosnia
Firstly ill like to point out I was born and lived in Britain all my life and both my parents are from Croatia. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr Milan Rnic
Extremely one sided and very anti-Serb
First I feel I need to begin by pointing out that I am not Serbian or have any Serbian relatives and nor am I Orthodox in my religious views I am an atheist. Read more
Published 16 months ago by S. Storey
patronising
One sided and oversimplified and no where near touches the complexity and absurdity of the yugo war,unlike the home grown Pretty village pretty flame or Underground. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2009 by babycat
DVD Review
This DVD does not seem to work on two of my DVD machines. I have not tried it on a 3rd machine but not looking hopeful!
Published on 11 Mar 2009 by P. S. Donlan
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