Change Your Image
savked
Reviews
Usekovanje (2022)
Deeper and different then what we used to see in Serbian films
So many different characters with so many different issues, yet they are all a family in one way or another. It is a common representation of not only Serbian but Balkan families as well and "slava" is just used as a tool to bring all these characters to the table.
While we are all at this very table, it is never boring which is very important for a debut director to do. A Serbian film that is finally using a camera and not only leaving it to stay on the side and do nothing. There are some "cringy" camera movements like the whip pan that is used in a weird moment and don't bring anything major to the storytelling but confusion, however, I recognize the will of doing something in such a small and closed space.
Great acting from the whole cast, so just another prop to the director and the screenwriter for making the dialogue emotional and entertaining.
Overall the film is deep and has a message, it resolves some issues (reconciliation), some issues need resolving through tough decisions that just NEED to happen (that's life), but also gives us hope, which is very important.
The only problem I have with the film is that it is too long and gets boring at almost the very end, so it should've ended sooner.
Jedini izlaz (2021)
Bad example of a "slow burner"
--- SPOILER ALERT ---
Let me first say that the production design, set locations and some of the performances of the actors (Ljubomir Bandovic) is absolutely amazing. Direction is also pretty good with some great shots of both Belgrade and Split, however I was not a fan of all those PTSD montages since there were just too many of them and are used to fill in the details about the story and is not used to connect with the emotions.
What I have a biggest issue with is a screenplay or the story overall and the way pretty much nothing happens until the last 20 minutes of the film which at that point audience stops caring. That started with Strbac killing himself, which was utterly hilarious to me since we don't know ANYTHING about that character, but not only him but every character in the film. The fact that his ex partner (police chief) is the one pulling all the strings and all characters are magically connected with no reason at all is so stupid that I can't even comprehend. There are too many gaps in the story and characters are poorly written that just kills the mood a film could potentially have.
Another film FSC wasted their money into...
I hope to see more from Darko as a director, but perhaps he should write his own stuff...