More Yugoslav / Serbian film
At the risk of lack of variety more on film. An opinion and news about funding for the Serbian film industry.
This probably isn’t the right place for me to start preaching about how much more there is to former Yug film than just Kusturica (and now Tanovic, or even Zbanic) but I will do so in any case.
True, quality film overrides subject matter and typecast characters – ie it is possible to make an intelligent, entertaining, good film that sells well to domestic and foreign audiences.
But it is entirely possible that the same film is guilty of using cliches, falling back on stereotypes, typecasting itself and the regional movie industry. The crucial factor is of course how much money films can make. There is the conundrum – audiences know contemporary former Yugoslav film for war themes and violence but little else. (Domestic) Writers and producers may not even want to exploit this but realise that if they use another theme film profits will be much lower. And so former Yugoslav film becomes a byword for violence of one type or another.
This is what I like to call the Bollywoodisation of the Balkan film industry. Just as Bollywood movies have pushed out intelligent and highly watchable Asian movies and monopolised the funds the same is true concerning the blood and violence theme in the Balkans.
This situation is exasperated by the numerous Hollywood movies that are being screened using the Serb (or Bosnian Serb) as the violent bad guy trying to blow up the US, the world, or to start more wars. And now Western backed movies covering the subjects of Ratko Mladic, Zeljko Raznatovic ‘Arkan’ are being filmed. The latter will be played by Vinnie Jones, former footballer, who has become famous for his portrayal of violent gang banging types.
‘Spring Break in Bosnia’ another film concerning Bosnian Serb war criminals, starring Richard Gere, is about to commence filming in Bosnia.
What can be done about all of this? Certainly little can be done about the number of Serbian bad guys in Hollywood today. But the important issue is that local writers and producers are not squeezed out of the film market if they choose not to serve us the usual Balkan blood and guts meal.
A potential answer is that governments become involved. The Croatian government has been pretty active subsidising domestic movies ensuring that the domestic film industry remains alive and kicking. Most films which apply for funds aren’t the usual tales of Balkan warriors hungry for ethnic chaos.
The Serbian government has also been active in subsidising domestic film since 2004 (sadly the excellent actor / former Culture Minister Branislav Lecic did little in this regard). The average grant totals 200,000 Euros and 40 Serbian films have received grants including Ivkova Slava, Karaula, View from Eiffel Tower, Sons, Optimist (Paskaljevic), We’re not Angels 2 and many more. Some of the films involved are co-produced with other countries such as Karaula (Croatia). Recently director Goran Markovic spoke out saying that the grant list should be shortened amidst media criticism that some of the films receiving money will never be finished.
Admittedly some of those movies have violent themes but hey we are only looking to try to influence a positive – not trying to dictate what peoples taste should be right?!
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there is just no way to avoid the theme of war in the movies when there has been so much bloodshed. I was surprised myself when the first “big” Kosovar movie (Kukumi) after the war didn’t have a war theme. It depicted the poast-war period instead (which is still related to the war but nonetheless).
For some movies without the war theme you will have to check those produced in Albania. They mainly touch on life under communism, life under post-communist chaos and are not violent. They are funny and witty. There is no “bad guys” as we are used to have them expect.
As Bg Anon noticed, I wrote about what associated with Balkans in South East Europe Online:
http://seeuropeonline.blogspot.com/2006/08/what-associates-with-balkans.html
bye
Hello! I live in Croatia… I have seen many films from Hollywood about Balcany, and I’m surprised and shocked how stupid they are.. I wish that thoose rich and leasy directors and writers learn something about us, and STOP describing the people of Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia as crazy, violent animals… I belive that one person doesen’t describes all the nation, because if it does, than start making movies about G.W.Bush, which is one of the BIGGEST criminals of our times…All thoose who think similar or dissagree with my oppinion please contact me on my msn adress: jan_1990_msn@hotmail.com
I think you raise some valid points, one film from Hollywood really pissed me off, ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ it did not correctly identify anyone, I guess that was supposed to keep the film from taking sides, instead it made the film look like it was made by ignorant people who didn’t read the news. So regardless of one’s viewpoint, it was an insult to intelligence that was unacceptable.
The cheese factor in that movie was horrendous!
And that is where you and I are going to agree, the cheese factor in these violent movies that cater to a morbid interest in bloodshed and war is terrible and not helpful to dialog between people who need to talk seriously about the future. Bad films like that don’t help. At least with Bollywood films which are un-intelligent and cheesy, they are mostly fun escapist fare! I think actually a REAL Bollywoodization of Balkans film, lots of dance, lots of music, love stories, that might cheer people up and put them in a better mood, and lessen tensions ultimately.
Thanks for the comment
I dont like to go overboard with the point about negative Serbian characters because I know what that sounds like but it is true.
I saw some film about a Bosnian Serb running about the big apple with a nuke in his brief case.
Then there was the one about a guy that goes wild in a US forest because of his experiences with all those Balkan barbarians he lived through during the Bosnian war (I think although the errors were silly).
Then on Pink recently I watched a movie about a group of Serbs on the top of ski resort who were shielding war criminals and bumping off American teenagers there one by one.
It really is tiresome and apparantly the tip of the iceberg there are a lot of these types of negative balkan stereotypical characters in Hollywood (hey what do you know I said I wouldnt rant about it!).
I also think that Bollywood films are ok – to a degree. But they have squeezed out serious film. The irony (if thats the right word) is that the Indian diaspora has been demanding yet more and more Bollywood tales with their similar and shallow lets face it, subject matter. A lot of people only know Bollywood and this is my comparison with Balkan film. I have a feeling that the Balkan diaspora also adore the ancient warriror theme.
Film plays an important role in cultural identity. I think there is a danger of self perpetuating sterotypes too. Yeah was it surprising that music from war films was blasted by paramilitaries during Bosnia etc? There were more instances of life imitating art too.
What would be wrong with a film for example from Bosnia concerning the discovered pyramids? It could be some kind of semi fictional (ok probably fully fictional but lets keep it alive) prophecy movie.
Surely there are more than a few liberal Hollywood types who know about Bosnia – writers and actors who would be interested in such a project.
Such a project I suspect and all that comes with it would be worth tens of millions for the Bosnian economy.
Excellent points. It is extremely ironic that the domestic industry may continue to strengthen the stereotype of the-Balkans-as-violent-region (and yeah, I expect Hollywood to inflict that out of sheer ignorance and generally avoiding films of deeper significance than the usual fare…blow things up until we get to a happy ending…:-7).
I think you’re quite right – the state in each Eastern European country is going to have to decide whether films are a cultural priority, and deliver appropriate funds to the ministry of culture, to keep worthwhile foreign films going.
But state funding strikes me as a fragile and insufficient source of funding. I have no idea to what degree there may be private funding available, but as a wild suggestion: you never know what people like Robert Redford or other indie (independent film) producers may be willing to sponsor, given the right “pitch”. That will take some assiduous research by Serbs, Romanians, Croats, etc., but filmmakers with humanistic / moral concerns and great stories might find funding from individuals or private foundations or other donors?
If there is a selling point to be had, it might be this: when Hollywood, to say nothing of Bollywood, is continually recycling old stories filmed 40-60 years ago for lack of good original stories, or even 20-30 years ago (e.g., Conan the Barbarian, as I just heard…) – fresh stories from creative residents of the Balkans sound to me like just the thing, the breath of fresh air that “indie” producers/backers may like.
I hope you guys can save us from our own sranje on this side of the Atlantic!