Witnesses By Author’s Name

I am always thrilled when I came across Film Movement production company. They typically present international films from around the world. Every month they present film from a different country from fairly unknown directors for American audiences.

This film is made in 2004 and it holds universal, powerful message about humanity and hope. Story is based on a novel from Croation writer Jurica Pavlicic called “Alabaster Sheep”. Director Vinko Bresan made only two films prior to this one and both were comedies. This film is a diversion, because it is drama that will not leave you indifferent after you see the film.

Set during civil war in Balkans (Croatia), it reflects on ethnic hatred between Serbs and Croats and how they manifest is a small, rural areas. Story is told from individual points of view from each one of the protagonists in the film. It shows how at the times of war, both civilians and soldiers loose their sense of morality if for no other reason then because of their ignorance or need to justify their actions (or lack of it). All it takes to capture their humanity is a little act of courage that often does not require weapon, just a strong sense of a right thing to do – in spite of unfavorable external influences.

Inside DVD case there is a comment from firm director. I really liked last paragraph of his statement that says: “War is an extreme human situation that can bring the worst in people. As a storyteller, I was interested in giving characters, regardless if they are considered good or bad, a chance to demonstrate humanity, compassion and love, if only for a moment. There are wars all around the world. I don’t think nationality is an issue for the human story in Witnesses. Whether I am Croat or Iraqi or American does not really matter. The important thing is whether I am person of integrity”.

Back in 2004, this film was a winner of the Berlin Film Festival. Deservedly so. For people who appreciate foreign movies, this is a must see movie.

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Vinko Bresnan’s 3rd film, “Witnesses,” is an intense subtitled treat. The action proceeds by replaying scenes with increasingly more information from different points of view until the entire story is told. It’s shot almost entirely in green and somber tones with the one splash of red coming at the end on the coat of the little girl. Mirjana Karanovic who has at least 13 films to her credit plays the mother who has just lost her husband in the conflict in Croatia. Ethnic hatred flares as her soldier son home on furlough with several buddies goes and kills a wealthy Serb who lives in their village, but there is a witness left behind who must eliminated to protect the crime. Kresimir Mikic plays the trigger man son. In war torn Croatia, the local police chief’s wife lays in a coma, needing surgery to remove a piece of shrapnel lodged in her brain. An overwhelmed local hospital has little hope of a successful surgery. The uncle of the soldier offers to put the police chief’s wife at the top of the surgical priority list if he will defer investigation of the murder to another time. Meanwhile, the mother’s other son Kreso played by Leon Lucev comes home to continue his romantic affair with a newspaper reporter who is investigating the murder. The mother warns her other son to keep Kreso out of it. One of the conspirators gets so guilty over having to eliminate the young daughter of the slain Serb who was witness to the crime that he blows himself up with a hand grenade in a local tavern. This causes the other jumpy son to contact the more stable Kreso to help him. They take several guys out to a field and tie them to a tree. Mikic urinates on the captives and is waved off a nearby shrine which is feared to be booby-trapped. Bored & jumpy, Mikic picks up a rock and says that he bets he could hit the sheep from where he is. He pitches the rock and blows up the shrine that sends a grated fence flying that severs the leg of his older brother Kreso. Kreso hobbles on crutches and rescues the child and flees the border with his newspaper girlfriend that concludes the film on its one hopeful note as the three survivors look at a sunrise and a future together. The film is paced slowly and methodically. The action increases incrementally as we are allowed to see more and more of the puzzle of the story. The violence of the war erupts periodically and then the film quiets as the characters reflect on events. It is an excellent film, one that should have a wider audience in the United States. It is a film that makes you think about war, about violence, about ethnic hatred, and ultimately about hope. Enjoy!