Compelling, humorous, thought-provoking, realistic, timeless. All the ingredients of a great film. No wonder that it was nominated as a Best Foreign Film Oscar.
The film is narrated through the thoughts and words of six-year-old Malik whose father Mesha has been sent to mine coal for a wayward remark made about a newspaper cartoon...and fooling' around (ahem). His innocence translates the often difficult issues for viewers into what could easily have been difficult to watch at times.
I appreciate the film because it is NOT the usual war-ravaged, bloody story of Bosnia/Yugoslavia but a human study on the strengths and weaknesses of each family member capsuled into this fantastic film. The quiet observations compel viewers to see and almost experience the joys & sadness of each character.
The film is narrated through the thoughts and words of six-year-old Malik whose father Mesha has been sent to mine coal for a wayward remark made about a newspaper cartoon...and fooling' around (ahem). His innocence translates the often difficult issues for viewers into what could easily have been difficult to watch at times.
I appreciate the film because it is NOT the usual war-ravaged, bloody story of Bosnia/Yugoslavia but a human study on the strengths and weaknesses of each family member capsuled into this fantastic film. The quiet observations compel viewers to see and almost experience the joys & sadness of each character.