As a Croat, I prefer Serbian cinematography because their actors are more natural than Croatian ones. Modern Croatian cinema is nothing but the chase for some international award and that's the main problem, making movies for the European jury, not for Croatian audience. Personally, I like Croatian TV series from the Yugoslav era like ''Prosjaci i sinovi'' and ''Gruntovčani'' because they are based on the real life stories about common people and performed by the actors that were also common people, the people ''from the people''.
As a Serb, I don't think we had a good movie in the past 15 years.. Last stroke of good cinematography was from the era of "When I Grow Up, I'll Be a Kangaroo" where we had several good ones, but after that it all kind of became trash imo
@@startledhamster The worst Serbian movie is a dear mother according to Croatian wannabe blockbusters. ''Majstori''? ''Heroj Ljiljan Vidić''? Bunch of cheap pro-Western humor that can make a laugh some intellectual cutted out from the reallity only.
Kao hrvat mogu potvrditi da je nasa kinematografija nacionalna sramota. Sve filmove bi trebalo zabraniti a sve redatelje, glumce i scenariste staviti pred zid
As someone else said, Serbian cinema has been pretty bad in the last 15 years or so as well. Probably a mix of not as many good actors as before and very few (if any) good writers.
Well, that's what people thought for the longest time. Actually, she was the owner of the bus, and one of the terms for letting the bus be used in the movie was her to be in the movie.
@@Miroslav96 Jeste druze slucajno je zalutala ni manje ni vise nego na filmski set. Postoje izjave od reditelja licno gde i sam kaze da baba predstavlja smrt ne samo likova u autobusu vec i na nadolazeci rat i bombardovanje.
As I get older, it is getting harder to watch Pretty Village, Pretty Flame. It has some comedic scenes, but it is not a comedy at all. It's very hard to watch, and in my opinion, it's the best anti-war film of all time.
As a Serb, I hate those movies. Serbs cnat make a serious movie without adding humor so when we talk about our pain we turn it into a sarcastic comedy and I just hate such comedy. Its not a comedy that makes life easier, its like rubbing alt on the wound. I'd rather watch movies about first and second Balkan wars or abut early Seribia. I am done with the 90s and I am done with Yugoslavia. I pray to God no one will believe in sucha stupid concept as Yugoslavia anymore. There were two Yugoslavias, Serbs paid with many lives for both. then it fell apart... and we paid again. No more stupid lies. A person who came up with the idea of yugoslavia must have been cursed to do sucha thing....
@@abhabh6896 Comedic aspect is part of everything in life ..that narrative that everything have to be serious where you processing serious subject is totally American and fake
Me too , these days I prefer more lighthearted movies like "The Elusive Summer of '68" ( Varljivo leto 68-me ) or "The Meeting Point" (Sabirni centar), I can`t watch movies like "Bure baruta" , for some reason translated in English as "Cabaret Balkan " . I guess misery receptors in my brain got saturated, can`t handle any more.
Actually, "Pretty Village, Pretty Flame" is the most anti-Serbian movie ever made, and it was made in Serbia and by the Serbs. Everything for (Western) money and some fame! It reflects the director's personal political view's. He later became a member of Milosevic's party, because he thought he could profit of it too. In the movie, only the Serbs are drunkards, rapists, whores, thieves, murderers. The others are poor village family people and guys whose property was destroyed by the evil Serbs. There are also a few other films with such subtle messages, but this one is blatant.
Best of Serbian dark comedy can not be translated to English. To understand "Maratnci trce pocasni krug" and "Ko to tamo peva" you would have to understand Serbian and Serb way of life. That minimum to understand the humor. Average English speaker is incapable of watching these master-peaces.
that is only movie in the whole world you need to watch three times: first time as any movie, second time from Jakovljevic perspective and last time from Ilija Cvorovic perspective. every time you get new movie
That was Serbians victims from today's Bosnia In one scene you may hear how war in Bosnia started One Bosnian convicted criminal came to a Serbian wedding in Sarajevo and started to shoot at guests
I grew up with my dad running the Toronto Yugoslavian and later Serbian Film Festival and I'm super grateful for it (especially as a filmmaker). Serbia inherited the legendary Yugoslavian cinema industry. Most people don't know it was a top 5 film industry in the world and the Balkans still make amazing films!
The Professional (2003) IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST serbian movies mad after the fall of SFRJ, incidentally it was made by the same director as Balkan Spy and Who sings over there - Dušan Kovačević!
The movie is great but there is also a theater play on UA-cam, in which Danilo Bata Stojkovic played the main role and is a masterpiece of acting. I don't know if there are English translations to the play, but I think it is worth watching even without them
The music during the village burning scene in Lepa Sela is not war music of the 90's but a rock song "Whole Yugoslavia dances to rock n' roll". It came out in 1988.
Honestly before watching your vid. The only Balkan movie I watched was Bosnia's No Man's Land. But now thanks to you opening up all things Balkan I will give those films a try. The movies of other regions needs more love. Thanks a lot from the Philippines!
The opening song of Pretty Village, Pretty Flame was released few years before the war and it's called Igra RockNRoll cela Jugoslavija (The whole Yugoslavia is dancing to RockNRoll) and the mix of it with war scenes is more of a sarcasm than an homage to wartime music.
I remember showing my film professor Ko To Tamo Peva for the exam of the course. He loved it. I feel like each of the characters can be interpreted as a part of Serbian society at the time, and of course that can be extrapolated further into parts of Balkan society. I am glad you enjoy Serbian cinema! Pozdrav. Edit: I forgot to mention, but a series of movies I love and think people should give a watch is "Tesna Koža" or "Tight Skin". There are 4 official movies.
Ah, I simply cannot wrap my mind around, how or why would you not like Maratonci Trce Pocasni Krug. Its a damn MASTERPIECE! But yet again, unfortunatelly for the Serbian cinematography, for other people to understand it or to enjoy it you really MUST know history and general Serbian dark humor un order not to miss some obscure masterpiece reference.
I am a Croat but Serbian movies are amongst the best in the world. Acting school and college in Belgrade are one of most prestige in the Balkan. They had masterpieces of movies like she said Balcan express, Balcan spies, Balkans run the last circle, Whos singing over there.. But there's much more than those. War spectacles were specialty. They made in cooperation of all ex Yu republic but series as Otpisani and povratak otpisanih was not only war series. They were a symbol of resistance agains evil like Kozara etc... Humor is unavoidable part of those movies and it's quite hilarious... Comedies were made by making jokes of our selves and it's hilarious that everyone can recognise someone around himself or even self. Even our last war was filmed correctly like Lepa sela lepo gore, Neprijatelj and they show to public all absurd of war...
Black Cat White Cat, The Underground and Promise Me This (2007) are three of my favorite movies. The Bulgarians always say: "Brother, if you can't solve a problem with money... solve it with a lot of money. Such an iconic quote :D
Great video, great coverage! i'd like to add that "Lepa Sela Lepo Gore" was filmed in Bosnia, during the war, many of the extras that played soldiers would go to the battlefields in-between shooting scenes and all the filming equipment, cast and crew had to be smuggled into Bosnia from Serbia during the night, crossing the river Drina. Nikola Kojo said that the actual documentary about them filming an anti-war movie as illegal immigrants from the opposing side would make a much better movie than the one they filmed and there are countless stories about how they got certain protection in Bosnia because all of them are movie-stars and well known and respected across ex-Yu.
Lepa sela, lepo gore was filmed during the war, as it was happening. Movie suggestions: Lajanje na zvezde - charming movie about students and their last days in highschool. Widely regarded as one of the best Serbian movies. What's unique about it is that there isn't a single swear word uttered. Which as you might know, is almost impossible. Skyhook - movie about a the bombing of Serbia in the 1999. The plot centers around an everyday guy who used to play basketball, fell in love, had a kid and now is trying to comfort his kid while the bombs are falling on their heads. Along with his friends they try to lighten the reality of their current state of affairs. Both movies are an amazing watch. One is lighthearted and "comfy", while the other one is heart wrenching and heart breaking.
i’m lucky enough to be able to understand roughly 95% of the colorful serbian language… to me that’s like a half of what makes these (especially comedic) movies so brilliant. the other half is familiarity with serbian/ balkan culture, cinematography and of course acting
“Balkanski spijun” is a comedic remembrance of 60’ in Yugoslavia set in ‘80. The guys are ex (for better word) Stalin followers who were forced to go to pension in late ‘60-start ‘70. His mind is still out there (in more than one way) plus he is bored,, not accepting the changes that had happened in the country since then. He wants to prove himself as a useful ex-secret service agent not realising that no one is interested in it anymore.. Hence the comedy of it is spot on. Discrepancy between his mindset and the country’s reality is what makes it hilarious.
Pension? Its implied they were in jail. In reality those so called Stalin followers usually ended up in much worse place then jail-concentration camp Goli Otok
@@marko1263 He was removed during Rankovic purges. That he secretly adores Stalin is added bonus. 😄 (As far as i remember) I do not think he was in Goli Otok. Maybe I do not remember correctly. 🤷🏼♀
Nikola Kojo is one of the greatest actors in Serbian history already, in his 50s he is over 40 years on cinema, with more then one of iconic roles. Mi nismo anđeli, Četvrti čovek and Rane is MUST SEE
I was looking for this comment so I don't have to write it. 😊I would add "Parada" (2011.), he was very funny in that movie. In "Mehanizam" (2000.) he showed that he can play a creepy villain.
Serbian cinematography is regarded as one of the most authentic, resilient and influential, at least in the Balkans. I believe film enthusiasts from elsewhere miss out on some great movie moments, if they don't watch a classic Serbian movie from time to time. So much pathos, quite a few original stories, beautifully acted, and the list goes on...These 3 movies Anna mentions are masterpieces - someone from the Ministry of Culture should open a YT channel, specifically to upload at least 10 of the most important, translate them into 10 or more most spoken languages, and spread the art of Serbian moviemaking, with its finest works - but that's just my wish. Still, here goes my list of top 10 (including these 3): 1. Marathon Family Running Honor lap (1982)The Topalovic family has been in the burial business for generations. When the old (150 yrs old) Pantelija dies, five generations of his heirs start to fight for the inheritance/ 2. Strangler vs. strangler (1984)A mentally-disturbed flower seller starts killing young girls on the streets of Belgrade. While the frustrated police inspector is trying to stop him, an aspiring musician finds his life and work deeply intertwined with that of a killer. / 3. The Meeting Point (1989)During the excavation of ancient Roman ruins, an old archaeology professor accidentally opens the gate between our world and the world of the dead. / 4. In The Middle Of Nowhere (1994)This Serbian drama follows the exploits of a depressed architect in Belgrade as he wanders about searching for the future in a land where the future no longer exists. / 5. Variola Vera (1982)The film is a satirical dramatization of the 1972 Yugoslav smallpox outbreak, which was the last outbreak on European territory. / 6. We Are Not Angels (1992)Angel and the devil fight for the soul of a Belgrade playboy who made a young girl pregnant. / 7. The Elusive Summer of '68 (1984)For the young man who lives in Serbian province town, the maturing coincides with the turbulent political events of the year 1968. / - In no particular order, BUT Marathon Family forever at no.1!
forgot to mention: Last Lap At Monza (1982) After spending seven years in prison, an outsider decides to establish his own way of justice in a decaying society, an action thriller / a must see urban crime drama
Sedam i po (Seven and a Half) is one of the best movies ever made. On the other side, more lighter note, Kad porastem biću Kengur (When I Grow Up, I'll Be a Kangaroo) is one of the funniest movies ever made. Highly recommend both of them!
Maratonci was a premonition movie about the breaking up of Yugoslavia. The great-great-grandfather passing away (Tito) and the rest of the heirs (countries) fighting for his wealth.
Ngl Srđan Dragojević kinda carried the 90s cinematography. Starting off with Mi nismo anđeli (We are not angels),and ending it with Rane (The Wounds),one of the greatest runs in history of Yugoslav cinema
As a person who grew up in former Yugoslavia, I appreciate your efforts to represent one of the best periods in a specific European cinema, despite the several inaccuracies. The best English translation of the last movie is "Beautiful villages burn beautifully"!
Screenwriter here, Tito and me(Tito i ja) is a must watch , if you haven't seen it, also Turneja or The Tour, and the only new one i love for being the only accurate High School movie of people at 18 here. 2/3 of this movies y can find on yt, myb with subtitles, enjoy! Great video btw!
Very nice video. Thank you for covering all those brilliant movies. You did a really good job with this video, humor, cutscenes. I haven't watched others yet. Keep up the good work.
Pretty village pretty flame is the most authentic anti war movie as it was shot in the country where the story is taking place while the war was still going on several kilometers from the front line. And the extras in the movie were in fact regular soldiers armed with live ammunition. There were also several "interesting" anecdotes regarding extras on the set.
Fax...Preach girl, we Serbians also don't like our government, today everyone feels the same about their own government...We had great cinematography and actors, some really great movie are still out there for you to see..."Tesna koza" is must see TV, epic satire about average man every day struggles...
Like everyone here already said, the old lady in the bus symbolizes death. Also, Who Sings Over There is structured like a Greek tragedy, with the two Roma singers being the choir between the acts.
I still remember Cabaret Balkan from 1998. I found it relatable even though I live in the West. Being working class and human suffering go hand in hand no matter where you live it seems.
Its even more surreal when you live in that city and recognize how realistic everything is. The location of the scenes feels almost like a reenactment of events that happened at one time or another in the city's past on just such a place that you can take a walk to at any time.
Have you seen Strangler vs Strangler? It's from the director of Who's singing over there and The Marathon Family. It's absolutely amazing. It's about how a loner man who sells flowers stars killing womem by strangling them and that inspires a young rock singer/songwriter to write his greatest hit. It's one of the best dark comedies out there.
When discussing the start of the war in Bosnia, you provided a misleading and oversimplified explanation by stating, 'Bosnian Serbs, backed by the Yugoslav army, rejected the results and mobilized to claim Serbian territory. The reality is that there were talks between the Bosniaks and Serbs about a peaceful separation, with all Bosnian demands being accepted. However, when the delegation returned to Sarajevo, Alija Izetbegović refused to accept the deal, leading to the outbreak of war. It later came to light that someone within the U.S. government had been in direct contact with Izetbegović, reportedly telling him, 'You will get far more in war than what you have negotiated in peace.' That individual was said to be Bill Clinton. The real story behind the war in Yugoslavia is that there were indeed discussions about peaceful separation, but foreign powers, particularly the U.S. and Germany, had a vested interest in sparking conflict. Why? The war resulted in massive companies being destroyed and privatized, Germany avoided economic decline by importing skilled, cheap labor from the former Yugoslavia, and they gained a market for their products. Today, we see how Germany benefits from Serbia's weakened economy and corrupt politicians, especially in areas like lithium mining. As for the narrative that Serbs were the sole aggressors and others were victims, we need to remember that the West supported Croats, Bosniaks, and Albanians in ethnic cleansing and massacres against Serbs. Of course, Serbs committed atrocities against Bosniaks, Albanians, and Croats as well. In reality, all sides were guilty. Ethnic wars are brutal, and with leaders like Izetbegović, Milošević, and Tuđman in power, avoiding conflict was nearly impossible. The reason I wrote you this much is because I think you are interested in the topic. Google Domagoj Margetic, Croatian journalist, he had some inside information he made public, information that he put in his book "Bloody Balkan Billions" (Krvave Balkansek Milijarde). In short the West is behind the war, and those autocrats were their puppets, behind doors they together stole billions while pretending to play wars with us. When it comes to your analise of these movies you did a great job, keep up the work.
Balkanski špijun and Lepa sela lepo gore were the first Serbian movies films I saw. It's interesting that you mentioned not forcing someone to watch them on a date. 🤣That's actually the context in which I watched both of these. I'll definitely have to watch Who's Singing Over There and pretty much every other movie you mentioned in this video. You should make this a regular thing and make more videos like this where you review/recommend films.
Grandma is the real life owner of the pigs that ride in the bus. She wanted to keep an eye on them, so Sijan told her to sit in the back and not say anything.
@@full3p yeah you can read Serbo-Croatian wiki, Šijan (the director) said to film students, that he wanted to have a character who he doesn’t need time to flesh out like the others. Therefore the reason for the grandma with the popeye chin
We in Serbia rewatch older films to the point we can quote them word for word,and its like that for generations,so msny films never left the tv and they were always on 'Kad porastem bicu kengur' is a film you can watch every week,remember all the lines and still enjoy it, only bad side of our cinematography is that somehow that 'Serbian film' is most notable abroad.
If you want to watch more movies with Nikola Kojo, I would recommend the movie "We are not angels"( Mi nismo anđeli ), you should also watch the movie "Ivkova slava", which is one of the Serbian comedy classics. Great video by the way
One of the most underated movies is "The beauty of vice" (Lepota poroka). It 's a tragic comedy and it is about conflict of modern and traditional way of living, and also moral norms between those two.
Other Serbian movies that I would recomend (that are not comedies per se but have great significant value) are: 1987 crime horror drama Već Viđeno (Deja vu), 1989 pop cultural youth comedy Kako je Propao Rokenrol (How did the Rock'n Roll fail). Also 1971 movie "Mlad i zdrav kao ruža" (Young and healthy as a rose), a movie that was censored and banned by the establisment at the time is also fascinating. I would describe it as a sarcastic Serbian version of Stanley Cubrick's Clocwork Orange (and it was released few months earlier than the Cubrick's movie). It follows a young criminal nicknamed Steve (Dragan Nikolić) and his crime spree in the early 1970's Belgrade. The guy who directed it was originally a documentary film maker so it gives you amazing detailed perspective of the early 70s Belgrade (btw, you can find this entire movie here on yt) . Also 2010 movie Montevideo by Dragan Bjelogrlić (the guy who played Milan, the main character in Lepa Sela lepo Gore) is not bad either.
Varljivo leto 68 Balkanski spijun Ko to tamo peva Maratonci trce pocasni krug Sabirni centar Lepa sela lepo gore Rane Lajanje na zvezde Kad porastem bicu kengur Montevideo Underground Munje Zivot je cudo........and many more great movies
Great reviews lass! Try "Remember Dolly Bell?" by Kusturica. But my favourite is "Skupljaci Perja" with beloved Bekim Fehmiu. You want a acting masterclass? Watch Mr. Bekim.
Lots of Dragojevic in 90s is great. "Mi Nismo Andjeli" is his first film and his graduation project in academy. Then "Lepa Sela" and "Rane". And "Maratonci" is a classic, dunno how you cant stand it. It has some of the most memorable lines in Yugoslav cinema history.
One of my favorite movies is one I found by accident. Technotise Edit a ja by Aleksa Gajic an animated Serbian sci-fi movie (or I could say outright anime). It's taking place in futuristic Belgrade and the esthetic is simply amazing. While it does not shy away from action it's not the usual action movie in future, but a true scifi story with cool cyberpunk themes. And it does not forget the trademark balkan humor. Absolutely recommend.
I have 2 underrated Serbian gems. Leptirica and davitelj protiv davitelja. First is great spin off on vampires and have old serbian language in movie, which is great. Second one is dark comedy. Bizzare but amazing
Old lady in the movie Ko to tamo Peva never leaves the bus because she is Death. No one talks to her, she just sits in the corner. Even when the money is collected she is not in approached. In Slavic folklor death is an old hag not the Grim reaper ;)
As a Croat, I prefer Serbian cinematography because their actors are more natural than Croatian ones. Modern Croatian cinema is nothing but the chase for some international award and that's the main problem, making movies for the European jury, not for Croatian audience. Personally, I like Croatian TV series from the Yugoslav era like ''Prosjaci i sinovi'' and ''Gruntovčani'' because they are based on the real life stories about common people and performed by the actors that were also common people, the people ''from the people''.
As a Serb, I don't think we had a good movie in the past 15 years.. Last stroke of good cinematography was from the era of "When I Grow Up, I'll Be a Kangaroo" where we had several good ones, but after that it all kind of became trash imo
@@startledhamster The worst Serbian movie is a dear mother according to Croatian wannabe blockbusters. ''Majstori''? ''Heroj Ljiljan Vidić''? Bunch of cheap pro-Western humor that can make a laugh some intellectual cutted out from the reallity only.
Kao hrvat mogu potvrditi da je nasa kinematografija nacionalna sramota. Sve filmove bi trebalo zabraniti a sve redatelje, glumce i scenariste staviti pred zid
As someone else said, Serbian cinema has been pretty bad in the last 15 years or so as well.
Probably a mix of not as many good actors as before and very few (if any) good writers.
the worst part is when Croatian actors confuse good acting and starring blankly like an automant
The old lady in black in the bus represents death, she is always with them there, but no one sees her.
ladno , nisam obraćao pažnju uopšte !!!
ima razna tumacenja sto se te babe tice ali u stvarnosti ona se slucajno tu nasla i usla u autobus
@@Miroslav96 ništa nije slučajno
Well, that's what people thought for the longest time. Actually, she was the owner of the bus, and one of the terms for letting the bus be used in the movie was her to be in the movie.
@@Miroslav96 Jeste druze slucajno je zalutala ni manje ni vise nego na filmski set. Postoje izjave od reditelja licno gde i sam kaze da baba predstavlja smrt ne samo likova u autobusu vec i na nadolazeci rat i bombardovanje.
If Danilo Bata Stojkovic was holywood actor, he would have at least 5 oscars.
Naš Orson Vels
As I get older, it is getting harder to watch Pretty Village, Pretty Flame. It has some comedic scenes, but it is not a comedy at all. It's very hard to watch, and in my opinion, it's the best anti-war film of all time.
As a Serb, I hate those movies. Serbs cnat make a serious movie without adding humor so when we talk about our pain we turn it into a sarcastic comedy and I just hate such comedy. Its not a comedy that makes life easier, its like rubbing alt on the wound. I'd rather watch movies about first and second Balkan wars or abut early Seribia. I am done with the 90s and I am done with Yugoslavia. I pray to God no one will believe in sucha stupid concept as Yugoslavia anymore. There were two Yugoslavias, Serbs paid with many lives for both. then it fell apart... and we paid again. No more stupid lies. A person who came up with the idea of yugoslavia must have been cursed to do sucha thing....
@@abhabh6896 Comedic aspect is part of everything in life ..that narrative that everything have to be serious where you processing serious subject is totally American and fake
Me too , these days I prefer more lighthearted movies like "The Elusive Summer of '68" ( Varljivo leto 68-me ) or "The Meeting Point" (Sabirni centar), I can`t watch movies like "Bure baruta" , for some reason translated in English as "Cabaret Balkan " .
I guess misery receptors in my brain got saturated, can`t handle any more.
Actually, "Pretty Village, Pretty Flame" is the most anti-Serbian movie ever made, and it was made in Serbia and by the Serbs. Everything for (Western) money and some fame! It reflects the director's personal political view's. He later became a member of Milosevic's party, because he thought he could profit of it too. In the movie, only the Serbs are drunkards, rapists, whores, thieves, murderers. The others are poor village family people and guys whose property was destroyed by the evil Serbs. There are also a few other films with such subtle messages, but this one is blatant.
@@abhabh6896 ti si malko zaruben
Best of Serbian dark comedy can not be translated to English. To understand "Maratnci trce pocasni krug" and "Ko to tamo peva" you would have to understand Serbian and Serb way of life. That minimum to understand the humor. Average English speaker is incapable of watching these master-peaces.
@harbinger200 True story
Well, I played it to my Chinese friend and he died laughing. It helps that he speaks three languages though.
Balkan spy is masterclass of acting
u predstavi profesionalac Bata je cak i bolji na zalost nije bio ziv kad se snimao film
@@vladimirdjokic2953 Bata je bio glumačka legenda. Rijetko majka rađa tako nekog na ovim prostorima.
@@ugowarNikola Simić mu je bio ravan 😂
that is only movie in the whole world you need to watch three times: first time as any movie, second time from Jakovljevic perspective and last time from Ilija Cvorovic perspective. every time you get new movie
I’m Serbian and I have together with my family seen ’’ko to tamo peva’’ 27 times and counting 😂 GOAT movie
That was Serbians victims from today's Bosnia
In one scene you may hear how war in Bosnia started
One Bosnian convicted criminal came to a Serbian wedding in Sarajevo and started to shoot at guests
It was all organized by US. They controlled everybody in that war, all sides.
I grew up with my dad running the Toronto Yugoslavian and later Serbian Film Festival and I'm super grateful for it (especially as a filmmaker). Serbia inherited the legendary Yugoslavian cinema industry. Most people don't know it was a top 5 film industry in the world and the Balkans still make amazing films!
No way drop some names
Tako je Neco!
@@friendofvinnieStick to Disney😅🎉
Maratonci su super! I don't care what anybody else has to say.
Wait until she gets even better grip on language. Dušan Kovačević is great exactly, among other things, because he can't be translated.
The Professional (2003) IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST serbian movies mad after the fall of SFRJ, incidentally it was made by the same director as Balkan Spy and Who sings over there - Dušan Kovačević!
I love that movie too.Also most of folks forget about that movie.And how good it is.
Cannot agree more, one of the greatest movies, and yeah we almost always forget about that one.
Writer, not director.
The movie is great but there is also a theater play on UA-cam, in which Danilo Bata Stojkovic played the main role and is a masterpiece of acting. I don't know if there are English translations to the play, but I think it is worth watching even without them
@@garasaninjovan oh yeah, absolutely, anything with Bata Stojković is an instant classic and a masterclass of acting
Topic to think about, how many oscars would have Bata Stojković won if he had acted in USA?
All of them
@@LuxisAlukard Chuck Norris of acting! 😂
@@justoneserbMore like John Wayne
Greatest
Pavle Vujisic, even Orson Vels put him in 3 greatest actors in world
I just recently watched again "Sabirni centar" or "Collection Centre" i think in english, man the movie hits haaaaaard. Anica Dobra
The music during the village burning scene in Lepa Sela is not war music of the 90's but a rock song "Whole Yugoslavia dances to rock n' roll". It came out in 1988.
Nobody mentions that pretty village pretty flame is based on a true event when some Serbs get trapped in the tunnel and surrounded by Muslims.
Honestly before watching your vid. The only Balkan movie I watched was Bosnia's No Man's Land. But now thanks to you opening up all things Balkan I will give those films a try. The movies of other regions needs more love. Thanks a lot from the Philippines!
No mans land is soft and intentional movie made for western audience...its ok, but if ya want some real '90's check "Rane"...
The opening song of Pretty Village, Pretty Flame was released few years before the war and it's called Igra RockNRoll cela Jugoslavija (The whole Yugoslavia is dancing to RockNRoll) and the mix of it with war scenes is more of a sarcasm than an homage to wartime music.
Correction: We say Zdravo or Pozdrav in Serbia. Not Bok, bok is Croatian :)
Nema veze.
Bok is not used in many parts of Croatia, it's mostly Zagreb.
Kod mene u kraju kazemo Haug jer smo Indijanci
OMG....you just started a third Balkan war :D
@@BIGNEM Hahaha, so how does it matter?! Well, it's like signing America with the greeting здравствуйте.
I remember showing my film professor Ko To Tamo Peva for the exam of the course. He loved it. I feel like each of the characters can be interpreted as a part of Serbian society at the time, and of course that can be extrapolated further into parts of Balkan society. I am glad you enjoy Serbian cinema! Pozdrav.
Edit: I forgot to mention, but a series of movies I love and think people should give a watch is "Tesna Koža" or "Tight Skin". There are 4 official movies.
Try to watch.... Zikina Dinastija...
Ah, I simply cannot wrap my mind around, how or why would you not like Maratonci Trce Pocasni Krug. Its a damn MASTERPIECE!
But yet again, unfortunatelly for the Serbian cinematography, for other people to understand it or to enjoy it you really MUST know history and general Serbian dark humor un order not to miss some obscure masterpiece reference.
I am a Croat but Serbian movies are amongst the best in the world. Acting school and college in Belgrade are one of most prestige in the Balkan.
They had masterpieces of movies like she said Balcan express, Balcan spies, Balkans run the last circle, Whos singing over there.. But there's much more than those.
War spectacles were specialty. They made in cooperation of all ex Yu republic but series as Otpisani and povratak otpisanih was not only war series. They were a symbol of resistance agains evil like Kozara etc...
Humor is unavoidable part of those movies and it's quite hilarious...
Comedies were made by making jokes of our selves and it's hilarious that everyone can recognise someone around himself or even self.
Even our last war was filmed correctly like Lepa sela lepo gore, Neprijatelj and they show to public all absurd of war...
Black Cat White Cat, The Underground and Promise Me This (2007) are three of my favorite movies.
The Bulgarians always say: "Brother, if you can't solve a problem with money... solve it with a lot of money. Such an iconic quote :D
Serbian films only make sense if you understand the Serbian language well,the translation mostly does not make sense
Great video, great coverage! i'd like to add that "Lepa Sela Lepo Gore" was filmed in Bosnia, during the war, many of the extras that played soldiers would go to the battlefields in-between shooting scenes and all the filming equipment, cast and crew had to be smuggled into Bosnia from Serbia during the night, crossing the river Drina. Nikola Kojo said that the actual documentary about them filming an anti-war movie as illegal immigrants from the opposing side would make a much better movie than the one they filmed and there are countless stories about how they got certain protection in Bosnia because all of them are movie-stars and well known and respected across ex-Yu.
To je pokrio film "Turneja".
Lepa sela, lepo gore was filmed during the war, as it was happening. Movie suggestions:
Lajanje na zvezde - charming movie about students and their last days in highschool. Widely regarded as one of the best Serbian movies. What's unique about it is that there isn't a single swear word uttered. Which as you might know, is almost impossible.
Skyhook - movie about a the bombing of Serbia in the 1999. The plot centers around an everyday guy who used to play basketball, fell in love, had a kid and now is trying to comfort his kid while the bombs are falling on their heads. Along with his friends they try to lighten the reality of their current state of affairs.
Both movies are an amazing watch. One is lighthearted and "comfy", while the other one is heart wrenching and heart breaking.
I ja sam hteo da preporučim Lajanje na zvezde.. 👍
Ne da je sniman za vreme rata, nego je sniman 20km od fronta.
Vojnici su ujutru išli da statiraju u filmu a poslepodne u patrolu.
"Tri Karte Za Holivud" is also good parody/satire of divide of society in Yugo
Agreed! She needs to watch this movie if she hasn't.
Шта је, шта сте се упиљили!!?? :D
Tito i ja,Tri karte za holivud najbolja dva filma devedesetih
In the movie “ko to tamo peva” the hidden message is that the old lady at the back represents bad luck or death
Kažu da je Šijan to demantovao.
@@miloso.1042jeste demantovao.
@@miloso.1042 Прича је да су свиње биле њене, примети како се први пут појављује тек након што утоваре свиње.
@@miloso.1042a i ne bi bilo nešto originalno
i’m lucky enough to be able to understand roughly 95% of the colorful serbian language… to me that’s like a half of what makes these (especially comedic) movies so brilliant. the other half is familiarity with serbian/ balkan culture, cinematography and of course acting
Lepa sela lepo gore su takav masterpiece koji srce cepa nama koji smo odrasli u toj zemlji.
“Balkanski spijun” is a comedic remembrance of 60’ in Yugoslavia set in ‘80. The guys are ex (for better word) Stalin followers who were forced to go to pension in late ‘60-start ‘70. His mind is still out there (in more than one way) plus he is bored,, not accepting the changes that had happened in the country since then. He wants to prove himself as a useful ex-secret service agent not realising that no one is interested in it anymore.. Hence the comedy of it is spot on. Discrepancy between his mindset and the country’s reality is what makes it hilarious.
Pension? Its implied they were in jail. In reality those so called Stalin followers usually ended up in much worse place then jail-concentration camp Goli Otok
Not 60s but '48, when Stalinists got thrown into camps. There were no stalinists in Yugoslavia in the 60s.
@@marko1263 I used Stalin for her reference since she probably does not know who is Rankovic 😊
@@marisaj2346 but Ilija isn't pro-Rankovic but an actual Stalinist, the man keeps his picture in the basement.
@@marko1263 He was removed during Rankovic purges. That he secretly adores Stalin is added bonus. 😄 (As far as i remember) I do not think he was in Goli Otok. Maybe I do not remember correctly. 🤷🏼♀
Nikola Kojo is one of the greatest actors in Serbian history already, in his 50s he is over 40 years on cinema, with more then one of iconic roles. Mi nismo anđeli, Četvrti čovek and Rane is MUST SEE
I was looking for this comment so I don't have to write it. 😊I would add "Parada" (2011.), he was very funny in that movie. In "Mehanizam" (2000.) he showed that he can play a creepy villain.
u dont like Maratonci? that makes me sad :(
how can one not love that thing :/ I am sad now :(
That movie has to be understood to be funny. I did not understand it until ~30 years old. Its not a story for kids.
I'm glad there are foreigners who don't think that A Serbian Film is peak of Serbian cinematography
"Sickly man", that bald guy who coughs, was actually only 34 at the time.
He was born bald and 32 yrs of age...:)
Serbian cinematography is regarded as one of the most authentic, resilient and influential, at least in the Balkans. I believe film enthusiasts from elsewhere miss out on some great movie moments, if they don't watch a classic Serbian movie from time to time. So much pathos, quite a few original stories, beautifully acted, and the list goes on...These 3 movies Anna mentions are masterpieces - someone from the Ministry of Culture should open a YT channel, specifically to upload at least 10 of the most important, translate them into 10 or more most spoken languages, and spread the art of Serbian moviemaking, with its finest works - but that's just my wish. Still, here goes my list of top 10 (including these 3): 1. Marathon Family Running Honor lap (1982)The Topalovic family has been in the burial business for generations. When the old (150 yrs old) Pantelija dies, five generations of his heirs start to fight for the inheritance/ 2. Strangler vs. strangler (1984)A mentally-disturbed flower seller starts killing young girls on the streets of Belgrade. While the frustrated police inspector is trying to stop him, an aspiring musician finds his life and work deeply intertwined with that of a killer. / 3. The Meeting Point (1989)During the excavation of ancient Roman ruins, an old archaeology professor accidentally opens the gate between our world and the world of the dead. / 4. In The Middle Of Nowhere (1994)This Serbian drama follows the exploits of a depressed architect in Belgrade as he wanders about searching for the future in a land where the future no longer exists. / 5. Variola Vera (1982)The film is a satirical dramatization of the 1972 Yugoslav smallpox outbreak, which was the last outbreak on European territory. / 6. We Are Not Angels (1992)Angel and the devil fight for the soul of a Belgrade playboy who made a young girl pregnant. / 7. The Elusive Summer of '68 (1984)For the young man who lives in Serbian province town, the maturing coincides with the turbulent political events of the year 1968. / - In no particular order, BUT Marathon Family forever at no.1!
forgot to mention: Last Lap At Monza (1982) After spending seven years in prison, an outsider decides to establish his own way of justice in a decaying society, an action thriller / a must see urban crime drama
0:42 little mistake here. "Bok" is a Croatian greeting, while "Ćao" is a Serbian greeting.
nah. Serbian is "zdravo". not that italian sheiit lol
"Ćao", "Zdravo" or "Pozdrav" will do the job. ✌🏼
@@nebo1186 aj pali --aka-- cao zdravo! 🤣
Sedam i po (Seven and a Half) is one of the best movies ever made. On the other side, more lighter note, Kad porastem biću Kengur (When I Grow Up, I'll Be a Kangaroo) is one of the funniest movies ever made. Highly recommend both of them!
Maratonci was a premonition movie about the breaking up of Yugoslavia. The great-great-grandfather passing away (Tito) and the rest of the heirs (countries) fighting for his wealth.
Ngl Srđan Dragojević kinda carried the 90s cinematography. Starting off with Mi nismo anđeli (We are not angels),and ending it with Rane (The Wounds),one of the greatest runs in history of Yugoslav cinema
As a person who grew up in former Yugoslavia, I appreciate your efforts to represent one of the best periods in a specific European cinema, despite the several inaccuracies. The best English translation of the last movie is "Beautiful villages burn beautifully"!
Old Serbian cinematography is the best there is and im so happy someone finally made a video about it
Screenwriter here, Tito and me(Tito i ja) is a must watch , if you haven't seen it, also Turneja or The Tour, and the only new one i love for being the only accurate High School movie of people at 18 here. 2/3 of this movies y can find on yt, myb with subtitles, enjoy! Great video btw!
Also "The Underground" Kusturica and Dusan Kovacevic masterpiece!
Thank you and God bless for drawing attention to these films!
Very nice video. Thank you for covering all those brilliant movies. You did a really good job with this video, humor, cutscenes. I haven't watched others yet. Keep up the good work.
As a kid we got our first VCR in 1987, I was 7 year old and watched "The balkan spy" 100 times. ❤
Pretty village pretty flame is the most authentic anti war movie as it was shot in the country where the story is taking place while the war was still going on several kilometers from the front line. And the extras in the movie were in fact regular soldiers armed with live ammunition. There were also several "interesting" anecdotes regarding extras on the set.
There are Serbs that love Romanian movies ...especially between the year 2005 and 2010.And yes.... I am one of them
One Romanian movie scarred me for life "The Death of Mr. Lazarescuu"
It was like watching Serbian healthcare live 😅
Filantropica
Fax...Preach girl, we Serbians also don't like our government, today everyone feels the same about their own government...We had great cinematography and actors, some really great movie are still out there for you to see..."Tesna koza" is must see TV, epic satire about average man every day struggles...
Like everyone here already said, the old lady in the bus symbolizes death. Also, Who Sings Over There is structured like a Greek tragedy, with the two Roma singers being the choir between the acts.
I honestly think that Balkanski Špijun and Ko to tamo peva are two of the best movies from former Yugoslavia fullstop.
Maratonci trce pocasni krug.... best movie ever, for me :)
Totally
Would recommend you "Ivkova Slava" from the newer Serbian movies. 100% worth of your time
I still remember Cabaret Balkan from 1998. I found it relatable even though I live in the West. Being working class and human suffering go hand in hand no matter where you live it seems.
Its even more surreal when you live in that city and recognize how realistic everything is. The location of the scenes feels almost like a reenactment of events that happened at one time or another in the city's past on just such a place that you can take a walk to at any time.
As somebody who was growing up in Belgrade in the 90`s movie is giving me PTSD.
Also, every Serb feels the movie "Sky hook" durring the bombing.
Personally I can confirm that's how it was
Have you seen Strangler vs Strangler? It's from the director of Who's singing over there and The Marathon Family. It's absolutely amazing. It's about how a loner man who sells flowers stars killing womem by strangling them and that inspires a young rock singer/songwriter to write his greatest hit. It's one of the best dark comedies out there.
No love in the comments for Nacionalna Klasa? That movie was awesome.
Some other ex-Yugo classics I adore are "when i grow up i'll be a kangaroo", "Maratonci", "we are not angels" and "barking at the stars"
When discussing the start of the war in Bosnia, you provided a misleading and oversimplified explanation by stating, 'Bosnian Serbs, backed by the Yugoslav army, rejected the results and mobilized to claim Serbian territory.
The reality is that there were talks between the Bosniaks and Serbs about a peaceful separation, with all Bosnian demands being accepted. However, when the delegation returned to Sarajevo, Alija Izetbegović refused to accept the deal, leading to the outbreak of war. It later came to light that someone within the U.S. government had been in direct contact with Izetbegović, reportedly telling him, 'You will get far more in war than what you have negotiated in peace.' That individual was said to be Bill Clinton.
The real story behind the war in Yugoslavia is that there were indeed discussions about peaceful separation, but foreign powers, particularly the U.S. and Germany, had a vested interest in sparking conflict. Why? The war resulted in massive companies being destroyed and privatized, Germany avoided economic decline by importing skilled, cheap labor from the former Yugoslavia, and they gained a market for their products. Today, we see how Germany benefits from Serbia's weakened economy and corrupt politicians, especially in areas like lithium mining.
As for the narrative that Serbs were the sole aggressors and others were victims, we need to remember that the West supported Croats, Bosniaks, and Albanians in ethnic cleansing and massacres against Serbs. Of course, Serbs committed atrocities against Bosniaks, Albanians, and Croats as well. In reality, all sides were guilty. Ethnic wars are brutal, and with leaders like Izetbegović, Milošević, and Tuđman in power, avoiding conflict was nearly impossible.
The reason I wrote you this much is because I think you are interested in the topic.
Google Domagoj Margetic, Croatian journalist, he had some inside information he made public, information that he put in his book "Bloody Balkan Billions" (Krvave Balkansek Milijarde). In short the West is behind the war, and those autocrats were their puppets, behind doors they together stole billions while pretending to play wars with us.
When it comes to your analise of these movies you did a great job, keep up the work.
Agreed it's better than Hollywood. Emir Kusturica is the best.
I love his movie 'Do you remember Dolly Bell'!
@@ДраганНонковић Screenplay written by Abdullah Sidran.
@@Melle-vx4ww
I know...
Balkanski špijun and Lepa sela lepo gore were the first Serbian movies films I saw. It's interesting that you mentioned not forcing someone to watch them on a date. 🤣That's actually the context in which I watched both of these.
I'll definitely have to watch Who's Singing Over There and pretty much every other movie you mentioned in this video. You should make this a regular thing and make more videos like this where you review/recommend films.
Great recommendations. I'll watch them all
In "whos singing over there" grandma in back of the bus is symbolizing death and suffering of people that is about to happend.
Šijan je ovo demantovao.
Grandma is the real life owner of the pigs that ride in the bus. She wanted to keep an eye on them, so Sijan told her to sit in the back and not say anything.
@@PokojniToza1804 i to je netačno. Još jedan mit. Šijan je objasnio ko je baba i zašto je tamo.
@@full3p yeah you can read Serbo-Croatian wiki, Šijan (the director) said to film students, that he wanted to have a character who he doesn’t need time to flesh out like the others. Therefore the reason for the grandma with the popeye chin
Great video. Certainly worth a watch.
Bata is a nickname for big brother.
'Varljivo leto 68'
We in Serbia rewatch older films to the point we can quote them word for word,and its like that for generations,so msny films never left the tv and they were always on 'Kad porastem bicu kengur' is a film you can watch every week,remember all the lines and still enjoy it, only bad side of our cinematography is that somehow that 'Serbian film' is most notable abroad.
Some of the movies from the Balkans are truly masterpieces,way under appreciated
Yoy missed The proffesional "Profesionalac" great video btw
PEACE POZZ IZ VOJVODINA REPUBLIKA 🇷🇸🇷🇺
The Professional and Tears for Sale are two good post 2000 Serbian movies I could recommend.
"Lepa Sela Lepo Gore" hands down among 3 best anti war movies ever made.
Apocalypse Now
Full Metal Jacket
Lepa Sela Lepo Gore
Tin Red Line
Bravo bre mala, lepo od tebe, hvala...
If you want to watch more movies with Nikola Kojo, I would recommend the movie "We are not angels"( Mi nismo anđeli ), you should also watch the movie "Ivkova slava", which is one of the Serbian comedy classics. Great video by the way
One of the most underated movies is "The beauty of vice" (Lepota poroka). It 's a tragic comedy and it is about conflict of modern and traditional way of living, and also moral norms between those two.
The "Bok" with the serbian flag made me laugh so hard
Other Serbian movies that I would recomend (that are not comedies per se
but have great significant value) are: 1987 crime horror drama Već Viđeno (Deja vu), 1989 pop cultural youth comedy Kako je Propao Rokenrol (How did the Rock'n Roll fail). Also 1971 movie "Mlad i zdrav kao ruža" (Young and healthy as a rose), a movie that was censored and banned by the establisment at the time is also fascinating. I would describe it as a sarcastic Serbian version of Stanley Cubrick's Clocwork Orange (and it was released few months earlier than the Cubrick's movie). It follows a young criminal nicknamed Steve (Dragan Nikolić) and his crime spree in the early 1970's Belgrade. The guy who directed it was originally a documentary film maker so it gives you amazing detailed perspective of the early 70s Belgrade (btw, you can find this entire movie here on yt) . Also 2010 movie Montevideo by Dragan Bjelogrlić (the guy who played Milan, the main character in Lepa Sela lepo Gore) is not bad either.
BALKANSKI SPIJUM MENTION LETS GOOOOO ILIJA CVOROVIC BEST MAN
I watched two serbian movies, Technotise and A Serbian Film. Both were pretty good.
Varljivo leto 68
Balkanski spijun
Ko to tamo peva
Maratonci trce pocasni krug
Sabirni centar
Lepa sela lepo gore
Rane
Lajanje na zvezde
Kad porastem bicu kengur
Montevideo
Underground
Munje
Zivot je cudo........and many more great movies
Sećaš li se Doli Bel
Може и " Лептирица" , "Тајна манастирске ракије" .
Bumerang
finally video about balkan cinematography!!
Dear Anna, you deserve your weight in gomboce for the analysis of these movies. Alal vera!
the fact that you are using death note ost for this video...i love you. hugs from Serbia
Rly glad you like our movies :D
Gomboce with plums, nice, thanks
Great reviews lass! Try "Remember Dolly Bell?" by Kusturica. But my favourite is "Skupljaci Perja" with beloved Bekim Fehmiu. You want a acting masterclass? Watch Mr. Bekim.
"Davitelj protiv davitelja". Highly underated movie even in our own country i think. A horror/comedy. A must watch!
My favorite Serbian film is "Oktoberfest. Huge recommendation.
I really like this channel, just find out. Not because you do review of our movies, because I hear and see passion how you do this.
Lots of Dragojevic in 90s is great. "Mi Nismo Andjeli" is his first film and his graduation project in academy. Then "Lepa Sela" and "Rane". And "Maratonci" is a classic, dunno how you cant stand it. It has some of the most memorable lines in Yugoslav cinema history.
One of my favorite movies is one I found by accident. Technotise Edit a ja by Aleksa Gajic an animated Serbian sci-fi movie (or I could say outright anime). It's taking place in futuristic Belgrade and the esthetic is simply amazing. While it does not shy away from action it's not the usual action movie in future, but a true scifi story with cool cyberpunk themes. And it does not forget the trademark balkan humor. Absolutely recommend.
100 time better than Hollywood
"Balkan spy", "Maternal brothers", "a night at my mother's house" I believe they pretty much explained 20th century in Serbia
I like all Serbian movies, but Frozen Stiff makes me laugh like crazy! 😂
THANKS FOR THE GOMBOCE!!🤩
UNDERGROUND IS FOR ME BEST SERBIAN MOVIE
@AnnaLeWild lepa sela lepo gore means actually beautifull villages, are burning beautifully
I have 2 underrated Serbian gems. Leptirica and davitelj protiv davitelja. First is great spin off on vampires and have old serbian language in movie, which is great. Second one is dark comedy. Bizzare but amazing
This video is so good, I've got to share it on a Facebook!
I'm gonna recommend this to all my foreign friends as a short introduction to most recent Yugoslav history
Old lady in the movie Ko to tamo Peva never leaves the bus because she is Death. No one talks to her, she just sits in the corner. Even when the money is collected she is not in approached. In Slavic folklor death is an old hag not the Grim reaper ;)