It happened.
That thing happened...
That magic happened that night.
Last night.
Danis Tanovic, Bosnian screenplay writer and film director, won the Oscar for his debut film No Man's Land in 'foreign language' film category.
Golden Globe yesterday, Oscar today
"...Yes, I want to thank my wife for being so beautiful and good to me and loving me and being patient and this is for my country, for Bosnia, thank you", said Tanovic after recieving the golden statue last night.
On the way to the Oscars No Man's Land won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival Special, a Golden Globe for the foreign film and a bunch of other awards on festivals around the world, once more giving the recognition to Bosnian film makers and becoming the sort of the hero of Bosnian nation.
Danis Tanovic was member of Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina until 1994 serving in the Army Film Archive. With that experience, he left Sarajevo and wrote the screen play for No Man's Land which later found the French, Belgium and Slovenian producers.
His father recalls the day when he left the city: "When he was leaving Sarajevo in 1994 he said he had all he needed with him. Now he is proven to have been right."
No Man's Land is the bittersweet satire of the war and real story of the surrealism of the war in Bosnia and the situation people did get into. It can also serve as the example and the mockery of the role of UN forces and media during the war.
The main plot of the film happens on the no man's land where Ciki, played by Branko Djuric - Djuro, super famous all over ex-Yugoslavia from the 80's cult comedy series, member of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina is stuck with his friend Cera (Filip Sovagovic), who has his foot on a land mine and Serb Army solider Nino (Rene Bitorajac).
Since this year's venue for the Oscar's had the limited number of seats none of the 'No Man's Land' actors or crew could attend the award ceremony.
Sarajevo actor Branko Djuric gained his glory as part of cult comedy series Top Lista Nadrealista, later had the problem that theatre audience laughed as it saw him even if he acted in tragedy plays
Bosnian Film Tips
If interested in new Bosnian cinematography, apart of the Oscar winning film, there are (at least) two new Bosnian films on the war subject worth checking.
Short film Do You Remember Sarajevo? by Nihad and Sead Kresevljakovic and Nedim Alikadic is the pill of truth about the war time. The authors reviewed more than 500 hours of amateur video footage taken by during the war by the citizens of Sarajevo and edited it to 60 minutes of pure city under siege experience.
After a few days of screening in Sarajevo 'Obala' cinema, it is still impossible to get the ticket to see it of all internationals living in Sarajevo. Real underground hit!
Remake by Dino Mustafic is still in the final phase of production. Those who saw the sneak preview say that it is the best film ever on the subject of Bosnian war.
Sarajevo | 25.3.2002 | 11:26 
