A Serbian Film

[fortunesfool]

Don't ask how I saw this and I won't tell.



Well, everything you might have heard about it is true. It's a truly shocking bit of extreme cinema. Does it cross the line? Yes, I think it does but it'll be up to the viewer to decide (or not since the BBFC seem to have attacked it) for themselves.

The story follows a semi-retired porn star who is struggling to make enough money to keep his family safe and warm. The opening scene where he finds his young son watching one of his porn films sets the tone and theme well. A fellow porn star meets hims and tells him of a new film shooting and that the director will be in touch as they really want him to be in it. The money is too good and, despite reservations, he signs up. There is no script and he is expected to turn up and 'perform' wherever they put him. It becomes obvious all too quickly that this is not your typical porn film. A few unsubtle allusions to Alice in Wonderland later and we're off down a very dark rabbit hole.

The biggest problem is that it's too well made a film to simply dismiss as trash. It has a lot to say about 'entertainment' in todays society - film especially. For the first fifty minutes or so i'd say its up there with Peeping Tom and Strange Days as movies which make you question the voyeuristic nature of cinema. One scene especially -where the POV of our hero (?) constantly forces us to witness a horrible act while camera's point straight at us- is particularly uncomfortable and effective.

Then there's the newborn baby scene and the whole film just becomes completely unhinged and spirals off into some seriously disturbing and sickening places. It most reminded me of 'irreversible' here but pushed further (I didn't think that was possible either). And it is this second act which will make the films mark on cinema history - for all the wrong reasons. It's sure to become a must watch on every extreme cinema/gorehound checklist but it's no trashy splatter flick. It's almost unbearably grim and, to be honest, most will turn it off or walk out at the hour mark if they even make it that far.

Is it a good film? Yes and No. The first half is very good and the whole thing is beautifully shot and played but the relentless assault on the senses of the second act spoils all the subtlety of the first and you're just left shell shocked. By all means, if you have the stomach for it, see it and make up your own mind. Once seen it cannot be unseen but I guarantee you'll have an opinion on it.

[daghostwriter]

couldn't agree with you more on this

i was extremely disappointed couldn't see it at Frightfest
so watched it at home, and i couldn't believe what i witnessed, some scenes i felt so uncomfortable watching, and when the credits rolled i was in shock

next day cause the images were buried deep in my brain, i was thinking of some the horrible scenes and i actually wanted to be sick, and kept thinking that was just so wrong

i then watched it a second time and still uncomfortable watching certain scenes, but then thought it was very well shot and made film and the dark humor helps the film to flow

[JoanWilder]

I've just finished watching this literally about 10 minutes ago. I really don't know what to say....

I'm a big horror fan and I consider myself to be open minded, nothing has really phased me in cinema really. I didn't believe the hyperbole when people were saying how shocking this film was, they said the same with Antichrist, Inside, Martyrs, I Spit on Your Grave and the Original Last House on the Left. These films did initially stun me but they were also significant in their themes and timing and were well shot and are films that I can watch again and not feel 'wrong'.

A Serbian Film however, well, it has beautiful cinematography, binary oppositions, the acting is pretty decent particularly by the lead, following him on his tough and eventual reluctant but powerless film making journey.
So much sex in the beginning that it was starting to get boring (we get it he was a porn star with a big dick and even bigger stamina) and then the 'film-making' begins and that's when the film takes a path that I've not encountered in cinema before. I think this is what the makers of this film wanted, they want people to be shocked, disgusted, and upset by the contents of this film, though in my opinion they've cleverly disguised it and have not been so obvious as someone like Eli Roth have done in the past with Hostel.

The infamous newborn porn scene was uncomfortable viewing, I turned my head from the screen but that wasn't enough, I also muted it to, I found the sound more disturbing than the image. The final sequence however, disturbed me alot more and I unfortunately correctly guessed the Serbian family surprise.

I still don't understand what the movie is trying to say, if anything at all. A part of me thinks it's just a development of extreme film that is determined to push the boundaries as far as it can and I think this film has included or referred to every ounce of sexual violence that can be thought of. After this is there any further extreme cinema can go and if so why? It makes me question what is the point of making this film. Sure dark things happen in this world that the majority of us fortunately will never be exposed to so why expose it with cinema? Suffering as art? Big question. One of many this film raises and perhaps that was it's main aim?

It will trigger much discussion.

I'm rambling but I've seen this film now and I don't think I need to see it again.

[Jonesy]

My interpretation, and one that has been alluded to by the director, is that the shocking events were supposed to replicate some of the awful atrocities committed by the Serbs in the Croatian/Serbian war. For those of you who are too young to remember this war, it was appalling, with Serbian soldiers raping and torturing women and children, and completely obliterating entire villages, not through bombing, but by systematic ruthless and depraved violence. The newborn rape and the woman's teeth being ripped out, followed by oral rape are just some of the stories that emerged from the Yugoslavian conflict.

Saying all that, I found the violence in the film strangely unaffecting. I wasn't disgusted, or horrified, and in fact, I laughed on certain occasions because of the ludicrousy of the way the violence was depicted. Using a porn star as the protagonist in order to convey the close link between what is pornographic and what is the depraved torture of the innocent didn't work in my opinion; it trivialised the supposed socio-political message.

The whole film left me cold and unfeeling, possibly the exact opposite to what we are supposed to feel as an audience. Although it could be argued that our lack of empathy was a deliberate ploy by the director, so that the audience became the depraved torturers - so called civilised Europeans who are capable of similar behaviour given the circumstances.

[fortunesfool]

I read it more as an attack on the way cinema (and entertainment in general) is going. Everyone pushing the limits of screen sex/violence in order to get an audience response. It was like they were showing us the most horrific and uncomfortable things to see whether we'd say 'enough' or 'bring it on, what else have you got'.

In the end I sat through it all, like Jonesy, without really feeling anything except mild shock and disgust. I actually thought it said everything it had to say in the opening scene with the son watching the porno. The rest was just overkill.

[morris]

Originally Posted by fortunesfool

Is it a good film? Yes and No. The first half is very good and the whole thing is beautifully shot and played but the relentless assault on the senses of the second act spoils all the subtlety of the first and you're just left shell shocked. By all means, if you have the stomach for it, see it and make up your own mind. Once seen it cannot be unseen but I guarantee you'll have an opinion on it.

Having had some time to think over my impression of the film, I concur with most of what Fortunes says above. The first half of the film is well crafted and creates a brooding atmosphere of depraved goings on and impending doom so thick you can taste it. The second half then tramples all over that setup with a rigorous assault on your senses and stomach which is extreme, yet strangely hollow. In select moments during the OTT ending the film threatens to become a parody of itself as it teeters towards black comedy.

It left me feeling on the cusp of having grasped something meanful hidden in the butchery and pillaging but somehow remains out of reach. I considered whether a second viewing would render its intentions more clear but can't bring myself to; it's an oppressive watch obviously and no one wants to bang their head against a wall a second time. But I'm glad I saw it because it captured my interest, if not my admiration.

note: The entry on A Serbian Film on Wikipedia is chock-full of spoilers, so don't go there if you intend to watch the film. I knew what was coming and that probably lessened the impact somewhat.

[thedude]

I'd not even heard of this film until I read your reviews. Im torn between wanting to see it, and not at all. I had a look at Wiki (as it wasnt on iMDB!!!!) so I know what happens, I have never really been shocked by a film, Im curious in an ugly way..what do you guys think, is it worth seeing, or am I not missing anything if I dont?

[morris]

It is worth seeing dude. If you're like us, you're probably very hard to shock but it's one of those films you have to see, to form your opinion about, because it's going to be talked about.

[JoanWilder]

Watch it!

[thedude]

I watched it the other day, and I have to say I agree mostly with what has been said by all, which is a tad ambiguous I know.
I definatly agree with Jonesy in regards to the films shadowing of what happned during the Serb conflict, however I found the violence to be quite shocking, I wouldnt say it had any effect on me, but I winced in several places, and thats alot for me!!
It is a good film, its just hard to say in what context; I thought the build up was excellent, oodles of tension, the acting is good enough, Milos especially, as is the directing, the people involved obviously have some level of talent, as does the make-up and special F/X crew.
I've been trying to find a good analogy for watching it and I cant.
Its worth watching if you are interested in film as more than just a form of entertainment.
I have seen various other films that are exploitive and shocking for shockings sake (SALO or 120 of Sodom, being a prime example) and this is different. I respect the film, the actors and the director, however I wouldnt want to watch it again. To me, the film screams of the Director, and to a certain extent the actors too, saying, the rest of the world ignored what happened to us in the war...well here it is for your own eyes.

Rating, *sigh* how to rate it....

..If you can do the things I mentioned earlier, like viewing cinema as more than popcorn fodder then 4 maybe even 5 stars..if not, well you dont need a rating because you shouldnt watch it.