No Man's Land
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Movie Reviews of No Man's Land
Movie Review: No Man's Land is a winner
Summary: 5 Stars
Eschewing the well-worn path of filmed fighting and choosing to embark on a mission of spotlighting international bureaucracy, director Brank Djuric shines in "No Man's Land" at a radiance brighter than any other war movie in recent memory. The movie grabs its backdrop from the warm years of conflict in the so-called "powder-keg" of Europe -- the Balkans -- and thrusts two individuals from each side into a stew of regret, fighting, and an increasingly awful awareness that they are more alike each other than each had suspected. A black comedy designed to make the viewer think more about the vagaries of war and less about the particulars of the Bosnian/Serb conflict, it deeply uncovers the fact that war has almost always been a tool for leaders, rather than simply one dispatched upon by individuals.
Further scenes highlight a chain of humanity that is consistently broken by the forces of power politics that accompany any modern-day war. Given different circumstances and different propaganda, sharing a lager in Belgrade would not have been hard to see.
But that is not to be. What "No Man's Land" highlights so much better than the sappy "Saving Private Ryan" or obtuse "The Thin Red Line" is that, when geopolitics are being played on a grand chessboard, it never truly will. Not many leaders really mind about the pawns.
Movie Review: Must see
Summary: 5 Stars
This powerful movie left me with mixed feelings. Being Bosnian myself, one of the hundreds of thousands whose life was affected with this fully unnecessary war, I was not prepared for conclusion of this movie. If we assume that key for the movie was the sentence 'Being neutral means taking a side...' (free interpretation), end of this movie brings the conclusion that there is nothing that could have helped Bosnian people; their hate and will to kill each other is stronger than their urge for survival. In a way, this movie is giving alibi to the rest of the world for doing nothing... anything... for years. I can hardly accept that, my personal belief is that foreign intervention could have brought end to this war much earlier (like it did, after almost 4 years of killing and suffering). Insisting on neutrality was a death sentence for Bosnia and countless Bosnians. However...In a best tradition of Bosnian movie making, this movie brings Bosnian spirit to shine, despite deficiencies in translation (sometimes impossible task, I agree, yet, some of translations to English are simply clumsy). I think this is a 'must see' movie, if for nothing else than for refreshing entertainment. If you end seeing this movie with slightly bitter taste in your mouth than you will know: it touched your heart.
Movie Review: Haunting, Harrowing . . . an Amazing Film
Summary: 5 Stars
I couldn't help but love this movie. The writing is amazing, the acting is top-notch, and the story is simple and moving. I was compelled by every moment of this movie. (...)
This aside, there are no flaws in this movie. It is perfectly done. The acting, as I said, is amazing. You even forget that the actors aren't speaking English throughout most of the movie. Particularly good was the Bosnian soldier sitting on a mine. He knows that if he moves, he's dead. He knows they can't defuse the mine. He's dead, he knows it, and it shows. It would be really easy to overplay or underplay this part, but the actor (I can't recall his name) does it perfectly. He doesn't wail about "woe is me" as you'd suspect. He takes it like a man when others are around, his only comment being "Why is this happening to me?" Yet, when the others aren't looking, there's a particularly powerful scene in which he silently cries to himself.
Another notable part is the French Sergeant. He's the crusader; he's sick of sitting around doing nothing. Yet, even by doing something he ultimately does nothing. Brilliant.
I would highly recommend this movie to any who want a real perspective on the Bosnian war, or the futility of war in general. I would give it six stars if I could.
Movie Review: Conflict brought to life.
Summary: 5 Stars
Hearing about a comedy based on the recent Serbian/Bosnian war was intriguing. Having some Croat friends, and hearing the hype about this film enticed me into viewing it. I was not disappointed. This film evokes the disparity of the war between these people---people who looked the same, spoke the same language, and had the same human emotions. These people, thrown into conflict at the whim of their government are thrown into a trench together in the midst of a battle. A Serb and a Bosnian soldier eloquently evoke the injustices of the war from both perspectives. They even bring an aspect of hilarity to the irony of this conflict. This film is so incredibly well-done it is difficult to review.
The UN forces are featured as well, and their lack of ability to do anything during this conflict is highlighted.
While it is a comedy, this film shows the despairity of this war, it's terrifying effect on people who lived for nearly 40 years as friends and neighbors, and the lack of assistance the UN provided for them.
This is the best film I have seen this year, hands down. Minimal knowledge of the conflict is recommended, else some of the jokes and important moments may be lost. Overall, it is an amazing work, to be enjoyed by all.
6/5/02
Movie Review: A Lesson in Moral Ambiguity
Summary: 5 Stars
Usually movies that are morally ambiguous do not appeal to me. Happy endings and clear cut morals are the reasons I watch movies.In No Man's Land, however, the moral is that there are no morals and we should not rush to make moral distinctions. The movie is a critique of the foreign policy of NATO/U.S. based on a single incident.
Two Bosnians are trapped between Serb-Bosnian lines while on a patrol in heavy fogg. One is grieviously wounded (and presumed dead) and when two Serbs show up the unwounded Bosnian hides while the Serbs booby-trap the wounded man with a landmine. The remaining Bosnian kills one Serb and wounds the other.
Predictably, the Bosnian and the Serb trade accusations over who started the war and the answer invariably lies with the disarmed soldier. Alternately, they are bitter enemies and reluctant adversaries.
When a do-gooding French Sergeant comes to the rescue, he learns that the answer to ending the conflict between the two men is not as simple as he initially believed.
The allegory is that when the great powers intervene, they must recognize the intractability of ethnic conflict and that the moral high ground generally lies with whomever can say: "Because I have the gun."