By José Alberto Hermosillo
 |
The Serbian invasion of Bosnia occurred in 1995, causing serious repercussions that were difficult for other nations to understand, as they were unaware of the chaos experienced by the people in the newly divided Yugoslavia due to religious and political differences.
General Ratko Mladić (Boris Isakovic) documented his war crimes with a camera person recording every step he took, including the tragic genocide perpetrated by his officers. Moreover, the material validated his criminal actions in an effective system of political propaganda during those chaotic times in the Balkan Peninsula.
The General made a historic pact that seemed more like a “one-sided ultimatum” between his army and the United Nations Blue Helmets. Aida witnesses the event and feels that the General might take extreme actions against innocent locals in the restricted areas protected by the United Nations peace forces.
Writer-director Jasmila Zbanic recalls how the Serbian army mercilessly entered the UN-protected areas. The Blue Helmets forces were unable to protect the civilians, and mass killings and graves continue to be uncovered. She compares the Bosnian experience to the horror witnessed during WWII.
Jasmila Zbanic based part of her story on the book “Under the UN Flag” by Hasan Nuhanovic, who recounted the story of a male translator during the conflict. She adapted the film by featuring an influential female figure as the lead and connecting the dots. Researching for more evidence, Jasmila Zbanic found that genocide is still denied by many, including the European Union.
 |
| Jasmila Zbanic, director of “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Photo Jose Alberto Hermosillo |
At a virtual screening sponsored by the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, Jasmila Zbanic passionately stated that her main character is not an ordinary hero because “In the attempt to save her family, Aida loses her humanity, making her life more vulnerable.” With her film, Jasmila hopes to start opening the conversation about the importance of uncovering the truth about the genocide in her homeland—as a way to promote people’s liberation.
The production team visited a refugee camp during the Bosnian War (1992-1995) and hired over 500 extras from various countries. Some of them were actual survivors who shared their stories. For the director, it was crucial to listen to their first-hand experiences and accurately depict their accounts.
To recreate some of the most dramatic scenes, Jasmila Zbanic was inspired by “Schindler’s List.” She expertly used sound effects while maintaining the audience’s perception to effectively communicate the facts about one of the most tragic episodes in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s history.
Jasmila Zbanic began her career as a documentarian, meticulously searching for hours of video footage, transcripts, and other propaganda materials to accurately recreate the actors’ appearances, mannerisms, and dialogues.
She learned how to incorporate her real-world findings into all her projects, but in “Quo Vadis, Aida?” she was open to dramatization. Funding comes from the European Film Fund and private backers from nine European countries, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria, Romania, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Turkey, and Norway.
Since its debut at the Venice Film Festival 2020, “Quo Vadis, Aida?” has been screened at many festivals and in local theaters, giving some viewers the chance to see their story depicted on the big screen. The film was also streamed online in their country, reaching a wider audience because the director saw it as a personal way to fight censorship. She led a wide-ranging awards campaign, earning an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature Film.
After winning fourteen international awards, the film secured distribution in the United States and is now available to stream on Hulu. “Quo Vadis, Aida?” is not a film about revenge. Its true goal is to ensure justice for evil-doers and to make sure the European Union and the entire world acknowledge that the Srebrenica genocide actually happened. Aida is a fighter who sees hope at the end of the tunnel–our generation’s duty is to learn from the past and prevent atrocities like the Srebrenica genocide from ever happening again, creating a better and brighter future.
Quo Vadis, Aida? - Official Trailer
Parasite: Accomplishes the South Korean Dream
And Then We Danced: Folk, Love & Pride in Georgia
“Synonyms” A Good Jew in Paris
“Roma” Anarchy and Repression in an Epic B&W Mexican Drama
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
IF YOU ARE READING FROM A MOBILE DEVICE, CLICK: view web version FOR OTHER COOL FEATURES SUCH AS TRANSLATE POWERED BY GOOGLE, AN INTERACTIVE FILM FESTIVAL CALENDAR, AND MORE AWESOME ARTICLES.
Festival in LA ©2021
No comments:
Post a Comment