When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares right back at you.
Folks, this film is as nasty as its reputation. I've seen very, very horrid/weird stuff like Aftermath, Nekromantik or other vaguely offensive movies but this one takes the cake. I wont say it's good ("good" being an adjective not once approximately insinuated in the film), but I can't say its bad, hence the 5. I'll take it for granted that people reading this review are well aware of the plot, so I won't go through writing about it.
Worst thing about this film is that it's very well produced. Sure looks like this endeavor got a very comfortable budget, and all the people involved are professionals. The latter parts of the movie that aren't sunk in darkness are somewhat beautiful. If you don't listen to the dialog, or anything that happens on screen, there is about a total of 15mns worth of "normal" exchanges and heartfelt relationships throughout the whole film. The main actors are very (not to say pros)convincing. Yet beneath the pretty varnish of inspired lighting and settings (still talking about the first 20mns), this film traumatizes. And while repugnant and depressive, it's pacing and editing drags you to the very end. Quality production overall (but that's hard to confirm, since you'll probably only see it once).
This movie should be (is, in some countries) illegal, and should not be watched by people under, or at least 25/30. One has to have a mature approach to the content in order not to be scarred by this flick.
Here's a none-offensive way to think about it : the Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian people were ravaged by war (1992), and this is their catharsis. Civil war is not about tanks and bullets : its about the desecration and destruction of people. That's about how brutal and merciless this film really is.
It asks all kinds of questions. Mostly to the audience and it's voyeurism. Its a movie about the making of an extreme film, so it involves the viewers and confronts them with their responsibilities...by pretty much the first frames. Smart move for a hard subject (the only redeeming quality of the film).
Isn't that why we're watching horror films in the first place?
The first and foremost question this film asks is - what can one hope for when witnessing the deepest abysses of human depravity?
Can't think of a better answer than : nothingness.
It's one of the only film I've watched that was completely devoid of any human value or respect, but one of the only ones that dealt directly with evil and depravity (to such an extent that it becomes almost a parody at some points, and that certainly helps the afterward-coping).
I watched it once, used up a full week to think about it and get it out of my system, tried it a second time and stopped half an hour in. Now I enjoy Wes Andersons' movies even more.
Be warned.
Folks, this film is as nasty as its reputation. I've seen very, very horrid/weird stuff like Aftermath, Nekromantik or other vaguely offensive movies but this one takes the cake. I wont say it's good ("good" being an adjective not once approximately insinuated in the film), but I can't say its bad, hence the 5. I'll take it for granted that people reading this review are well aware of the plot, so I won't go through writing about it.
Worst thing about this film is that it's very well produced. Sure looks like this endeavor got a very comfortable budget, and all the people involved are professionals. The latter parts of the movie that aren't sunk in darkness are somewhat beautiful. If you don't listen to the dialog, or anything that happens on screen, there is about a total of 15mns worth of "normal" exchanges and heartfelt relationships throughout the whole film. The main actors are very (not to say pros)convincing. Yet beneath the pretty varnish of inspired lighting and settings (still talking about the first 20mns), this film traumatizes. And while repugnant and depressive, it's pacing and editing drags you to the very end. Quality production overall (but that's hard to confirm, since you'll probably only see it once).
This movie should be (is, in some countries) illegal, and should not be watched by people under, or at least 25/30. One has to have a mature approach to the content in order not to be scarred by this flick.
Here's a none-offensive way to think about it : the Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian people were ravaged by war (1992), and this is their catharsis. Civil war is not about tanks and bullets : its about the desecration and destruction of people. That's about how brutal and merciless this film really is.
It asks all kinds of questions. Mostly to the audience and it's voyeurism. Its a movie about the making of an extreme film, so it involves the viewers and confronts them with their responsibilities...by pretty much the first frames. Smart move for a hard subject (the only redeeming quality of the film).
Isn't that why we're watching horror films in the first place?
The first and foremost question this film asks is - what can one hope for when witnessing the deepest abysses of human depravity?
Can't think of a better answer than : nothingness.
It's one of the only film I've watched that was completely devoid of any human value or respect, but one of the only ones that dealt directly with evil and depravity (to such an extent that it becomes almost a parody at some points, and that certainly helps the afterward-coping).
I watched it once, used up a full week to think about it and get it out of my system, tried it a second time and stopped half an hour in. Now I enjoy Wes Andersons' movies even more.
Be warned.