-Caveat Lector-
>From http://www.mediacircus.net/nomansland.html
}}}>Begin
No Man's Land Movie Review
Movie Review by Anthony Leong © Copyright 2001
On the heels of last week's "Behind Enemy Lines" comes another film set during the
Bosnian War. However, instead of being a rousing and technically-sophisticated
gung-ho Hollywood actioner, "No Man's Land" offers a Bosnian perspective on the
conflict, brimming with absurdity, cynicism, and uncompromising tragedy. Indeed, the
director of "No Man's Land", Danis Tanovic, began his filmmaking career capturing
war footage for the Bosnian army, and witnessed firsthand the events that he
ruthlessly satirizes in the film. And thanks to some well-deserved buzz at the 2001
Cannes Film Festival (where Tanovic also picked up a screenwriting award), "No
Man's Land" has finally arrived stateside with a limited release.
The film begins in 1993, somewhere near the Bosnian town of Tuzla, where a small
contingent of relief soldiers from the Bosnian army make their way through the open
countryside under the cover of night. But with a thick fog blanketing the area, they
decided to stop and make camp for the night. Unfortunately, as the morning sun
rises and the fog dissipates, it is revealed that they have stumbled close to the
Serbian front lines, and as a result, are fired upon. When the dust clears, three men
find themselves trapped in a trench in 'no man's land', a swath of land between the
Bosnian and Serbian front lines-- a Serbian rookie named Nino (Rene Bitorajac of
"How the War Started on My Island"), and Bosnian fighters Tchiki (Branko Djuric of
"Time of the Gypsies") and Cera (Filip Sovagovic). In addition to the expected
animosity between them, the stakes are raised with Cera having tripped a land mine,
forcing him to lie motionless until help arrives...
... which does as both sides call on the United Nations to defuse the situation. A
small squad of UNPROFOR soldiers arrive (who are mockingly referred to as
'Smurfs' because of their bright blue helmets), led by Sergeant Marchand (Georges
Siatidis). Unfortunately, Marchand finds his hands tied by his protocol-obsessed
commanding officer (Serge-Henri Valcke) and the overly-politically-conscious head
of UNPROFOR, General Soft (Simon Callow of "Shakespeare in Love"). But thanks
to the snooping of reporter Jane Livingstone (Katrin Cartlidge of "Before the Rain"),
resolving the plight of the three men caught between the front lines becomes a top
priority for the UN, resulting in an entourage of UN soldiers and reporters descending
on the trench. Unfortunately, the involvement of the international community and
media end up making the situation far worse.
"No Man's Land" shares similar qualities to many of the Balkan films that have
gained international recognition in the past few years. Like "Cabaret Balkan (Bure
baruta)", "Underground (Bila jednom jedna zemlja)" and "Marsal", "No Man's Land"
presents a microcosm of the Bosnian conflict in the plight of its three trapped
soldiers
and the unsuccessful intervention of its would-be international saviors. And like
"Pretty Village, Pretty Flame (Lepa sela lepo gore)", Tanovic highlights the absurdity
of the situation with plenty of gallows humor, such as how control jumps between the
three soldiers as AK-47s change hands, or how Marchand unsuccessfully tries to
find somebody who is able to speak French (the language of the UN peacekeepers).
Unfortunately, as in the real Bosnian conflict, such absurdity inevitably gives way to
tragedy by way of self-interest-- the United Nations find themselves ill-equipped (both
technically and politically) to resolve the predicament, the media is too image-savvy
to uncover the reality of the situation, and the three men at the center of attention
end up being sacrificed in the name of expediting the peace process.
"No Man's Land" may lack the visually-arresting cinematography or crackerjack
action sequences of "Behind Enemy Lines", but it offers some compelling insight into
the complexity of the conflicts that arose out of the ashes of the former Yugoslavia.
In addition, the film illustrates how the lack of political will on the part of the
international community (particularly the United Nations) condemned the people of
Bosnia, Croatia, and 'rump' Yugoslavia to six years of bloody war from which
emerged many 'losers' and few 'winners'. Indeed, "No Man's Land" is a war film
about a war that few in the West understood, let alone cared about, yet offers several
some timely caveats for the difficult road ahead in Afghanistan, in the aftermath of
the Taliban government's collapse.
End<{{{
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forwarded as information only; no automatic endorsement
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
