As a cinephile with a passion for global cinema and a keen interest in history, I am thrilled to see Jasmila Žbanić delving deeper into the aftermath of the Bosnian War with her upcoming sequel to “Quo Vadis, Aida?”. Her work is not only a testament to her artistic prowess but also a powerful reminder of the resilience and courage of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
As an ardent admirer of cinematic art, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news: The esteemed Oscar-nominated director, Jasmila Žbanić, is gearing up for a sequel to her profoundly moving war drama, “Quo Vadis, Aida?” This masterpiece was a contender in the best international feature film category at the 93rd Academy Awards. I’ve been granted exclusive access to this intriguing development!
At the Sarajevo Film Festival, Žbanić revealed that her upcoming film will delve into the devastating aftermath of the 1990s Bosnian War and the infamous Srebrenica massacre, a horrific event central to her critically praised Oscar nominee. The story revolves around a Bosnian UN interpreter (played by Jasna Đuričić) who finds herself in a moral dilemma as she balances her family commitments with her duty, during the tragic times when over 8,000 civilians – primarily Muslim men and boys – were brutally murdered in Srebrenica, one of the most heinous acts of mass murder on European soil since World War II.
Though Žbanić hesitated to reveal specifics about the sequel’s storyline, she elaborated on her motivation to portray the aftermath of the massacre that was ultimately classified as a genocide, along with the broader war’s impact, which resulted in countless Bosnian women losing their husbands and sons.
Žbanić stated, “There’s a matter I must discuss: the remarkable unity these women achieved following the war, despite being primarily peasants and housewives. They overcame all hurdles that Bosnian, European, and global politicians had placed before them.”
Following the conclusion of the Dayton Peace Accords which marked the end of the Bosnian War, she stated that numerous political figures aimed to “move forward” and “avoid discussing deceased individuals, mass graves, and war criminals.” In contrast, courageous Bosnian women who had lost loved ones firmly disagreed. They asserted, “We demand to find our sons.”
The director said the film is “not only about Srebrenica, but it’s about this time we live in.”
“For three decades, these women have been looking for their sons. After such conflict, what comes next?” she questioned. “This issue weighs heavily on me, and the recent wars in Ukraine and Palestine have intensified my feelings. I believe it’s crucial that we discuss how we can strengthen our minds to focus on finding solutions and fostering peace.”
The film titled “Quo Vadis, Aida?” debuted at the Venice Film Festival and went on to dominate film festivals worldwide. It received a total of three European Film Awards, recognizing it as the best European film, the best director, and the best actress (Đuričić). Critic Jessica Kiang from EbMaster described the movie as a “powerfully moving, tragic, and heart-wrenching” drama. She commended Žbanić for focusing on the personal impact of the massacre, while also reminding us that each of the 8,372 deaths represents an individual tragedy, multiplying the horror exponentially.
On the day following their triumph at the Heart of Sarajevo TV Awards with “I Know Your Soul,” a crime drama co-created by Damir Žbanić (winner of the Berlinale Golden Bear for “Grbavica”) and Damir Ibrahimović, Žbanić conversed with EbMaster. This series, represented worldwide by Beta Film and bought by HBO Max for Central and Eastern Europe, reigned supreme in the drama category, bagging seven awards.
Žbanić commended the recent victory in his hometown as both “stunningly beautiful” and “exceptionally significant,” emphasizing that this success holds importance at a “crucial juncture” for Bosnia’s industry. Amidst rumors that BH Telecom, which is backed by the state, intends to discontinue the TV support program it initiated in 2021 with an initial investment of approximately $10.2 million, he made these comments.
Žbanić recently stated, “We’ve just launched [the fund] and ‘I Know Your Soul’ is debuting out-of-competition in Venice. This highly popular series was acquired by HBO and ARTE, marking a significant achievement for BH Telecom. However, the new director seems to miss the point. He doesn’t grasp the significance of films, visuals, culture, identity, and their impact.”
Žbanić shared insights about helming an episode from the debut season of HBO’s successful video-game adaptation “The Last of Us.” He referred to it as a “wonderful journey…to contribute to the grand design” of HBO and showrunner Craig Mazin, hinting at multiple upcoming collaborations with American partners that he eagerly looks forward to launching.
“As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve got a few upcoming movie projects on my hands. Some are in the process of being financed, some are still under development, and others are waiting for the perfect cast to bring them to life. What excites me most is that these films differ significantly from the projects I usually work on here.”
The versatile Bosnian professional equated her experience working within the studio system to earning a doctorate degree, stating: “I believe I understood that I shouldn’t blend two systems or methods of thinking. When I worked on ‘The Last of Us,’ it was evident they weren’t hiring a European director to display, but to contribute to their vision. If I apply my European approach, where the director is considered supreme, I would be in trouble. This approach doesn’t fit within the studio system.”
The director has shared that they are currently working on the post-production phase for the documentary titled “Blum,” which focuses on Jewish Bosnian businessman and philanthropist Emerik Blum. They are actively seeking a modest amount of funding to obtain permissions for the footage used in the movie. Emerik Blum was the founder and CEO of Energoinvest, a significant engineering and energy company that was one of the major conglomerates in Eastern Europe.
“Here’s a tale about a CEO who revolutionized the functioning of a socialist system within his company by adopting a purely capitalistic approach, according to Žbanić. The unique aspect of these companies was that the profits were distributed among the employees, who also received free housing, healthcare, education, and other benefits, which made it an exceptional initiative.”
The director expressed that Blum’s unconventional method of managing his company is notably relevant now, as it deviates from the typical narrative of socialism. He further commented, “We’ve been led to believe there are no options [besides capitalism], but let’s explore a different model that proved successful.”
The Sarajevo Film Festival runs Aug. 16 – 23.
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2024-08-19 17:48