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.
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.
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 RU-vid, 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
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!
“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
Idk why it was translated as "Pretty village, pretty flame", ik its an official translation but "Lepa sela lepo gore" means "Pretty villages burn pretty"
Dušan Kovačević is a great screenwriter and director (many times having Slobodan Šijan as the director) To me all of his movies and theater plays are top notch, and always performed by great actors.
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 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.
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!
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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...
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
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!
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.
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.
You had quite a few bad historical takes in the first three minutes, but okay. Comparing Yugoslavia with any Warsaw Pact country is just lazy. The Lady in the back seat is Death herself.
exactly... i mean can you imagine what would happen to the people involved in such movies in any of the Warsaw pact countries...? They got some slaps on the wrist in Jugoslavija tho... was talking to Mr. Sijan this summer :)
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
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.
However, historical events have shown that Ilija Čvorović was right after all in the movie Balkan Spy. The director of the film, as a declared anti-communist, elitist and someone who despises ordinary people, tried to make fun of people like Ilija Čvorović, but in the eyes of the public, he was seen as a positive and beloved character, despite the director's intention.
Scenes where villages burn are actually real. They were shooting scenes at frontline in Bosnia. Some Serbian actors didn't want to go filming because they were scared.
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.
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 ;)
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.
Hi Anna, love the content, I subscribed immediately. 😅 Question - Would you ever do movie reaction videos? It's great that you mention the scenes you found interesting but it would be even more awesome to see your reaction in person. Also don't worry about running out of serbian dark comedies to watch, with all the stuff you mentioned you covered only about 5% of ex-Yugo cinematography. All the best, we hope to see more of you.
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.
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
"Who's sings over there" and "Balkan spy" are films based on Duško Kovačević's script. Kovačević also adaptet the screenplay "Professionalac" for Robert Retford. The plot of the film would be adapted to the persecution of actors in Hollywood during McCarthyism. Regrettably, Retford did not shoot the film, but it was shot in Serbia a few years later.
Just watched No Mans Land yesterday, thanks for the reccomends!😄 I really liked Libertate too so I'd love if you did a video like this on romanian movies!(My favorite so far was R.M.N.! It's abaut modern a mulityethnic village in transilyvania I really reccomend it if you haven't seen it!)
All 3 movies are class acts...tnx for putting some reflector lights on these absolute masterpieces with no flaws in screenplay, acting, directing and storytelling... Yugoslav/Serbian cinematigraphy under commies wasnt market based, although it made a lot of cash... There was a numbers of studios in which people from the job choose what movies will be produced based on pure quality of material provided... My hiden gem recommendations- "Tajvanska kanasta", " Majstori, majstori" and "Decko koji obecava"...
P.S. any girl with that kind of understanding of cinematography( that is non-Hollywood, non-soap opera) and understands true meaning of comedy is WIFE MATERIAL, I can see that you are into anime if by any chance you like epic fantasy and Warhammer 40k ....You are 12/10 , worth leaving current wife and 5 kids 😂
People are idiots. „Pretty villages…“ shows serbian war crimes. A serbian movie that shows serbian war crimes! Back in 1995! The others aren´t showing their crimes even now. And “Pretty villages…” is biased… :/
Serbian and French cinema are the best in Europe without a doubt! If people can find Serbian movies with subtitles, they should watch _PLJAČKA TREĆEG RAJHA (The Robbery of the 3rd Reich)._ There're many good movies Also there are contemporary series like _KLAN_ or the legendary series like _BELA LAĐA (A White Boat)_ 🤣
@@miloso.1042 Who asked YOU?! No one cares about your taste. And about taste there can be no dispute. Millions of others like it, just like me, so it's senseless to even mention that
Here is a little addition to Pretty Village, if you look at who the soldiers are they represent different aspects of Serbian society. The drekavac represents the nationalism and the tunnel is alegory for the Serbian society being stuck in the dark unable go back and cant move forward.
Fun theories about the grandma in black that is silent for the entirety of 'Ko to tamo peva' (and yes a lot of Serbians also didn't realize she is there when watching the first time, me included): 1. She represents 'Death' this is why she is dressed in black and always present but no one talks to her. 2. She was the owner of the bus and requested to be present during the filming. But from what I actually heard, the truth is a bit more boring, the director only hired an old woman from a village to play this silent role as a random extra with no lines.
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.
I thought Serbia established Kingdom of Yugoslavia, like England Brittish... what part of Yugoslavia is Serbia then when you say Serbia became part of Yugo?
Growing up i never loved any of the serbian movies that were made. I loved american movies and watched them non stop but for the past few years i gave the movies a second chance. The reason why i think that these movies are great is becase these movies are cult classics but they still had productions that were worse in quallity than american made movies and instead of giving up serbians compensated with their own acting capabilites. Balkan spy and Pretty Village pretty flames had budgets but you cant deny that they look like ass because of the camera quallity, but the acting is other worldly. I have a lot of respect for the old actors from yugoslavia and serbia because they literally gave it all to make a movie.
