Direction: Jasmila Zbanic
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jasmila Zbanic’s Quo Vadis, Aida? is an enthralling, terrifying look at the barbarian 1995 genocide of Srebenica, when the Bosnian Serb Army killed 8,372 innocent Bosnian muslims during the Bosnian War. Rather than a generic account of the events, the film centers on the personal experience of the wife, mother, teacher and UN translator Aida Selmanagic (what a ferocious performance by Jasna Djuricic!), who fights like a true lioness in a desperate attempt to save her family. Although the film has been inspired by true events, its central character was fictionalized.
The treacherous General Ratko Mladic (Boris Isakovic), supreme commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, negotiates with the leader of the blue helmets, Major Franken (Raymond Thiry), who, despite the multiple recent attacks, keeps declaring the besieged enclave of Srebenica as a safe area.
As the tension escalates, the UN camp, located in the outskirts of the city, becomes the only 'untouchable' place, and it's where 25000 unarmed Bosnians seek shelter as they fear for their lives. Nonetheless, the ominous feeling that a catastrophe is near seems to make both UN soldiers and civilians restless.
The film, impeccably edited by Jaroslaw Kaminski (he worked with Pawlikowski in Ida and Cold War), unfolds as an effective nightmare that is suitably appalling in its historical context and extremely heartbreaking in terms of the family perspective.
Sarajevo-born Zbanic, who is best known for the Berlin-winner drama film Grbavica (2006), has here her best film to date; an unforgettable experience capped off by an acerbic finale, and whose unflagging edginess and breathtaking stride will keep you petrified at all times.
