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| Underground
Year: 1997
Classification: Foreign Film - Other
Directed:
- Emir Kusturica
Actors/Actresses:
- Miki Manojlovic
- Jeffrey Lynn
- Philip Dorn
A Surreal Comic political masterpiece
I am Croatian and quite familiar with the politics which underly Kusturica's invented History. Despite arguments that the movie is pro-Serb, I feel that this film reaches for the heart of the Serb perception of themselves as well as the world around them. It is an allegorical tale told with such visionary power and magnitude that it exists on its own terms as pure art, regardless of content. The film is worth viewing for the music alone. Frenzied, extravagant, violent and uproarious. I recommend this film to people to understand the visceral levels and dimensions within which the Serbian people view themselves. One cannot overgeneralize an entire culture, but much that is influential in Serb ideology is conveyed in this film.
The Balkans in us
'The Underground' deals with people's corruption, blindness of the followers (all of us are followers, so don't feel excepted), Balkan mentality, put in scene through perfect characters (played by perfect actors)... All that at a time of war, later socialism and finally destruction of post WWII socialist ideals. In fact, the first version of 'The Underground' I saw, was the 5 hour-long marathon version. After some months I came to see the shorter cinema version. Whatever version you come along don't miss to watch it.
It is a masterpiece of Kusturica's surrealism, just remember the scene after the first nazi bombing of Belgrade, when animals of the zoo run freely on the streets.. Or the underground system.. Remember the electric shocks, the making of the war movie.. Most of the scenes are just perfect as well as the scenario. Perhaps you need to be somehow connected to the Balkans to understand scenes like the one when Lazar Ristovski (Blacky) asks the gipsy musicians to follow him as he goes to the toilette. Some people argue that this movie is too political, but I would say that it is more about people than politics.
Bregovic, the maker of the music for this movie, has created something far greater than he had expected. By now, the music theme is extremely popular in Serbia and can be heard everywhere on Belgrade's streets performed by little gipsy groups.
Since 'The Underground' is not comparable to any other movie, and only because of that, I won't say that it is the best movie ever. However it is still influencing my judging of other movies. It is the most important movie to come out of the Balkans and represents a landmark in European film history. Simply said, it is perfect.
Film Starts Here. Talk about this movie! Buy someone a copy.
When the patriotic Blacky, from the film, has had enough he takes matters into his own hands, with hilarious, redemptive, celebratory results. The film is universal and is very worth watching without subtitles which can be distracting to the excellent acting, but I find that the dialogue helps lend to many metaphorical musings. I plan on watching this film as many times as I've seen Morvern Callar. Too many. The comedy in Underground is fast, subtle, and frequently metaphorical. The musicians are well paid and they are integral to the film. Final thought:"Franz!"
Buy Underground at Amazon.com
Buy posters at Allposters.com
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