Filmbrain is a big fan of Bosnian director Emir Kusterica. When Father was Away on Business, Time of the Gypsies, even the ill-fated Johnny Depp-Jerry Lewis vehicle Arizona Dream -- though very different thematically, all three are perfect examples of Kusterica's love of humanity, flawed as his characters may be. No other director can laugh in the face of tragedy like Kusterica.
His masterpiece came in 1995 with the Palme d'Or winning Underground. (Contender for best film of the 90's, easily.) This darkly funny, almost surreal film is an absolute joy to watch, and at the same time serves as an important commentary of the fate of the former Yugoslavia. The film was responsible for an outright war amongst French intellectuals. It escalated to such a point that Kusterica declared he would never make another film. Fortunately for us, this was a promise not kept. 1998's Black Cat, White Cat was a humorous film, though very light in tone, as if Kusterica needed something like this after the whole Underground affair.
His latest film, Life is a Miracle looks like a cross between the two -- funny, but with more of a political bent than his previous film. The film takes place in 1992, just at the outbreak of war in Bosnia, and is about the construction of a railway that will bring tourism to the tiny town of Golobuci. As with Underground and Black Cat, White Cat, the film appears to be drenched in music. Controversy may yet rise again, as the film depicts Serbs as (according to Variety) "peace-loving victims of circumstance". Controversial or not, the film looks wonderful from the trailer. (Available HERE (Windows media) -- not entirely safe for work.)
Thanks for the trailer link. Kusterica is still the man! I will always chuckle at the image of a man wiping shit off of his body with a goose. Or was it a swan..
Posted by: Rotcivnil | 2004.05.17 at 02:05 PM