Rat uzivo

Raw, suggestive, cynical, absurd, moving. Darko Bajič used a similar principle in his film to the one Emir Kusturica used in the phenomenal Underground – a mix of exaggeration, parable and documentary faithful "removal" of reality. Unlike Kusturica's monstrous fresco, however, his War Live is more of an intimate story of a group of filmmakers trying to make a film about the world around them during the bombing of Belgrade. Closed in the illusory safety of the studio, guided by very material motives. However, the surrounding events change not only their attitude towards the emerging film, but above all to the surrounding events. Inside the studio, a model of Serbian society is created, with all the absurdities and nonsense that they rattle with the "big" world. Bajič's film goes from the opening black-comedy to strong dramatic tones, which, without hysteria and patriotic pathos, give an insight into the war situation from perhaps one biased point of view – from the point of view of ordinary people. At first, the relatively distinct tone of the film is complicated in the course of it, the symbolic plane seems to fade away until it all culminates in a Fellini's tangle, when the film you are watching merges with the film that is being told. Bajič is obviously a great filmmaker, gifted with a talent for filming a big topic with ease that does not formalize it, but on the contrary gives it an impressive touch. Add in the great acting performances and excellent editing, and we have a film that is really worth seeing... (20.04.2004)