Pretty Village Pretty Flame

Colour, 35 mm
Serbia, 1996, 125 min
Section: 20 Years of Freedom

Synopsis

The wounded from the Bosnian War lie in a Belgrade army hospital. Among them is a man who reflects on the war confrontation as well as the years leading up to the violent conflict. Serb Milan grew up alongside Halil, a Muslim, near an abandoned tunnel they were afraid to enter. But now one of them is escaping through the tunnel to safety, not realizing that his one-time friend waits at the other end with a loaded gun and a head full of malice and reproach. The movie was made at a time when the last battles were still being waged, and it became the first Serbian film to broach the theme of the Bosnian War. In addition to the conflict, it also deals with the lives of characters of various origins and faiths in the period before the war. Its theme contributes to the discussion of whether it is possible to reach peace when revenge seems to be on most people’s minds. "It was tough – making a film about war during a war is pretty insane,” the director told Cinepur magazine about his work.

About the director

Srdjan Dragojević (b. 1963, Belgrade), who ranks among the top Serbian screenwriters and directors, graduated in psychology and film direction. In 1992 he debuted with We Are Not Angels (Mi nismo anđeli), which was very well received in the countries of the former Yugoslavia. A biting, comic undertone is also evident in the much-appreciated film Pretty Village Pretty Flame. His next title, Wounds (Rane, 1998), looks at life in Yugoslavia through the eyes of a different generation but with no less cruelty. After two years spent in the USA, Dragojević returned to Serbia where he shot the sequel We Are Not Angels 2 (Mi nismo anđeli 2), and also wrote the third installment in the series. The director’s latest movie is the period epic St. George Slays the Dragon (Sveti Georgije ubiva azdahu, 2009).