Quo Vadis, Aida?

QUO VADIS, AIDA? (15)

D: Jasmila Zbanić

Deblokada / Digital Cube / Coop99 / N279 / Razor / Extreme Emotions / Indie Prod / Tordenfilm / TRT (Damir Ibrahimovic & Jasmila Zbanić)

Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦 2020

102 mins

Drama/War

W: Jasmila Zbanić

DP: Christine A. Maier

Ed: Jaroslaw Kaminski

Mus: Antoni Lazarkiewicz

Jasna Duričić (Aida Selmanagic), Izudin Bajrovic (Nihad Selmanagic), Boris Isakovic (Gen. Ratko Mladic), Johan Heldenbergh (Col. Thom Karremans), Boris Ler (Hamdija Selmanagic), Dino Bajrovic (Sejo Selmanagic)

This film from Bosnia & Herzegovina, which literally translates as “Where Are You Going, Aida?” isn’t a particular easy or pleasant film to watch, but it remains mesmerisingly gripping throughout, mostly due to the magnetism of Jasna Duricic’s lead performance and the excellent direction of Jasmila Zbanić, who also wrote the screenplay and co-produced.

The events of the film take place during the Bosnian War, one of the conflicts during the 1990’s which led to separation of several former Yugoslavian states.

Jasna Duricic plays a translator for the UN, who is caught up in conflict which sees the population of a town seek solace at a Dutch military base, including her husband and two sons. Meanwhile, the Serbian troops, led by war criminal General Mladic, attempt to force entry so they can massacre all the Bosniak men and boys.

My personal knowledge of the real life events are limited, so this film provided a real eye-opener for me, and I’ll certainly be looking to watch more films and documentaries upon the subject, and I’d most likely revisit this film again at a later date, but it really isn’t a film you could describe as enjoyable.

7/10