Director: Emir Kusturica

Writers: Dusan Kovacevic, Emir Kusturica

Stars: Predrag Manojlovic, Lazar Ristovski, Mirjana Jokovic

Runtime: 167 min

PLOT: The story of two underground weapons manufacturer in Belgrade during World War II and the struggles they face during and after the war.

REVIEW: The story revolves around Blacky and Marko, who manufacture and sell weapons to the Communist resistance in World War II. Marko succeeds in doing his part with the help of his extraordinary duplicity, allowing him to propel up the ranks of the Communist Party, eventually abandoning Blacky and stealing his friend's lover. The movie portrays the friendship between two enthusiastic Communist Party members, Blacky and Marko, which takes a drastic turn when Blacky and his friends are tricked into staying in a cellar below Marko's house.   

The movie reveals its depth when the moment when a man emerges out of his hiding location in his native Yugoslavia and be told that Yugoslavia does not exist anymore, packing a devastating blow to the heart of a native. The politics of the movie have been scripted well, with no hidden agenda and subtle tale of duplicity. 

The movie ends brilliantly, with a vision bonding optimism and tragedy, wonderfully realized by director Emir Kusturica. The director elaborates how a nation destroyed itself from the inside and how not to repeat the same mistakes. 

Source: The New York Times