Director: Michael Winterbottom
Screenplay: Frank Cottrell Boyce, Michael Nicholson
Cinematographer: Daf Hobson
Stephen Dillane - Michael Henderson
Woody Harrelson - Flynn
Emira Nusevic - Emira
Kerry Fox - Jane
Goran Visnjic - Risto |
As the 1992 siege of Sarajevo played itself out on our TV screens, a British journalist in the midst of the crisis, crossed the line - moving from reporter to unashamedly biased spokesperson for the children of Sarajevo. And, to keep a promise, he smuggled a young Bosnian girl out of the country.
In "Welcome to Sarajevo", Michael Winterbottom ("Butterfly Kiss", "Jude") has drawn on journalist Michael Nicholson's book - "Natasha 's Story" to create a powerful and complex film. The heroes of this story are the people of Sarajevo.
From the opening sequences we are drawn into the experience of a city under siege. Grainy black and white video footage takes us by car through the ruined streets. Colour fade up and we watch a family preparing for a wedding. As the party enters the church shots ring out. Back to video footage, with a hand held camera, and we are one with the journalists covering the scene "Vultures, we are all vultures" - taking photos of wounded and dying people, running to escape gun fire.
We are given other brief glimpses into the life in Sarajevo.
- The dash for water, zigzagging in an effort to avoid sniper fire.
- The rare luxury of an omelette made from 3 eggs, then meticulously shared amongst 6 men.
- The poignant scene of a young girl of about 6 or 7, who has just been told that her only living relatives, her parents, are dead. She walks alone down a hospital corridor clutching a plastic bag with her few belongings.
This is life in Sarajevo. A life contrasted with that of the hard drinking relatively privileged journalists and the various world leaders shown in television footage, distancing themselves from any involvement in the war and vigorously defending their refusal to evacuate the children.
This is a powerful and moving film that really packs a punch. The performances are impressive, especially from Stephen Dillane as Michael Henderson and Woody Harrelson as a hard bitten and cynical journalist who cares. 10-year-old Emira Nusevic is impressive as the young orphan Emira, as is Goran Visnjic as Risto, the locally hired driver.
The first Western film to be made in and about Sarajevo, "Welcome to Sarajevo" raises numerous questions, both moral and emotional avoiding sentimentality. It strongly brings home the complex realities of the Bosnian war.
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