I first saw this movie years ago when it came out. I remember very distinctly walking out of the theater and having to stand around for a few minutes smoking a cigarette because I was emotionally overwhelmed. I'd started out sitting in the theater vaguely interested, watching events unfold, but by the end, I was completely wrapped up in the story. Once I pulled myself together, I was determined to find out more about the horror show in Bosnia.
I see a lot of negative reviews here complaining that it's a "Hollywood" movie. If you check the credits, you'll see this is primarily a British movie. In my view, it's the opposite of a Hollywood movie. There is no huge orchestral score signaling how we're supposed to feel in each scene, telegraphing emotions, building tension. There are no lengthy, impassioned speeches by heroic characters. We are not spoon-fed an overly simplistic plot. Instead we are shown a slice of life in Sarajevo, nothing special, some ordinary days in the life of people just trying to survive in an insane situation. If anything, the dramatic tension is underplayed. Things happen and then life goes on.
The man at the center of the action is an experienced journalist who has been in the dark heart of many ugly wars. But something different is going on in this place, and it doesn't take long before something inside him gives way, collapses under the weight of all that tragedy. He doesn't break down into tears. He doesn't scream at anybody. He doesn't show it at all. You really have no idea until he phones his wife in the middle of the night and calmly tells her of a decision he's made. She pauses. Somehow she can tell. And she says OK.
I watched this movie again recently and realized just how effective that was -- the tight focus on this story about this man at this time and place, nothing more. (And the fact that this actor was Stannis Baratheon makes his subtle performance even more affecting.) Everything is underplayed (except for Woody Harrelson, and he's obviously there for that purpose). So no, you don't get a history lesson in this movie, but you also do not get the Hollywood treatment.
This movie broke my heart. I have never forgotten it. And it made me go read some books to learn more about the war.
I see a lot of negative reviews here complaining that it's a "Hollywood" movie. If you check the credits, you'll see this is primarily a British movie. In my view, it's the opposite of a Hollywood movie. There is no huge orchestral score signaling how we're supposed to feel in each scene, telegraphing emotions, building tension. There are no lengthy, impassioned speeches by heroic characters. We are not spoon-fed an overly simplistic plot. Instead we are shown a slice of life in Sarajevo, nothing special, some ordinary days in the life of people just trying to survive in an insane situation. If anything, the dramatic tension is underplayed. Things happen and then life goes on.
The man at the center of the action is an experienced journalist who has been in the dark heart of many ugly wars. But something different is going on in this place, and it doesn't take long before something inside him gives way, collapses under the weight of all that tragedy. He doesn't break down into tears. He doesn't scream at anybody. He doesn't show it at all. You really have no idea until he phones his wife in the middle of the night and calmly tells her of a decision he's made. She pauses. Somehow she can tell. And she says OK.
I watched this movie again recently and realized just how effective that was -- the tight focus on this story about this man at this time and place, nothing more. (And the fact that this actor was Stannis Baratheon makes his subtle performance even more affecting.) Everything is underplayed (except for Woody Harrelson, and he's obviously there for that purpose). So no, you don't get a history lesson in this movie, but you also do not get the Hollywood treatment.
This movie broke my heart. I have never forgotten it. And it made me go read some books to learn more about the war.