Tied to My Roots: Recapping the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival in NYC
A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival in NYC. As a Bosnian myself, I thought it was important for me to go and get further acquainted with the cinematic landscape of my home country. But, even more than that, I was also able to continue to reconnect with my roots and to the stories from back home. Furthermore, I am incredibly proud of the quality of the films that are coming out of Bosnia. We may be a small market, but that doesn’t mean we somehow put out lesser works.
Since the film festival took place over the course of several days, I’m going to highlight here only my favorite films. For the full 2022 BHFF Program, you can click here.
Short Films
Here are some of the short films that left a mark on me.
Dir: Chris Leslie
This film was quite simple but incredibly powerful. It took the voiceover of a Bosnian man describing what it was like to live through the Sarajevo Siege and placed it over shots of quarantined Glasgow. I think this was beautifully done and the applicable nature of everything the voiceover said was rather jarring.
BHFF Jury 2022 Special Mention
Dir: Bafl Sarhang, Ismar Vejzović
This short hit me in the feels. It tells the story of a HAM radio operator trapped in Sarajevo who helps his fellow citizens connect to loved ones outside of the city. In such a short amount of time, this short managed to be funny, heartfelt, suspenseful, and heartbreaking. One of my favorite shorts I’ve ever seen.
“Kako se sad zove ova država?” / “What’s This Country Called Now?” (2018)
Winner of the BHFF 2022 Golden Apple Jury Award for Best Short Narrative Film, and Best Acting Performance
Dir: Joseph Pierson
This was a masterpiece of a short film! Based on the experiences of Aida Cerkez, a Bosnian woman who worked as a reporter throughout the Siege of Sarajevo, it is beautifully done and really gets you thinking while also pulling on your heartstrings.
“Izmedu Planina I Ratova” / “Between Mountains and Wars” (2021)
Dir: Qali Nur, Natali Khalili Tari
“In Sarajevo, a city where Sephardic Jews sought refuge over 400 years ago, the Jewish community lives in coexistence alongside their Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox Christian neighbours. Ester Kaveson Debevec, Rifka Albahari Raus & Laura Papo Ostojić, three Sephardi-Bosnian women not only lived through the 90’s war in Bosnia but also survived the Holocaust.” This short-ish documentary taught me even more about my country and especially the Jewish community in Sarajevo. I highly recommend this film to anyone who might be curious on this topic.
Full-Length Films
Here are some of the films that made me laugh, made me cry, made me feel something.
“Deset u Pola” / “Not So Friendly Neighborhood Affair” (2021)
Dir: Danis Tanović
Balancing serious topics with humor in Tanović’s own unique way, this movie was a joy to watch and great to have something that was about Ćevapi and not just the war.
“Tabija” / “The White Fortress” (2021)
Winner of the BHFF 2022 Golden Apple Audience Award
Dir: Igor Drljača
This was another film that didn’t directly comment on the topic of the Bosnian War but, instead, looked at the current issues Bosnia as a country is facing. Told through a boy-meets-girl type story that is fated to end badly, it examines corruption in the modern Bosnian political landscape and how that trickles down and affects certain sectors of the populace there. What really struck me with this movie was the juxtaposition between the good moments (warm, light-hearted, sweet, beautiful) and the bad (dangerous, sad, unfair, unequal).
Winner of the BHFF 2022 Golden Apple Jury Award for Best Documentary
Dir: Matthew Somerville
This documentary was so interesting to watch. It centers on the Sava river, which runs through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia. As it follows the river downstream, it takes a peek into the lives of various different people from all walks of life, providing different POVs in a wonderful kaleidoscope of people.
“Koncentriši se Baba” / “Focus, Grandma” (2020)
Winner of the BHFF 2022 Golden Apple Jury Award for Best Feature Film
Dir: Pjer Žalica
My favorite of all the competing films, this one is so smartly done. It takes place in April of 1992 right before the start of the Bosnian War and centers on a multi-ethnic family that has been brought together because of the impending death of their family matriarch. As the scheming begins over the inheritance, the family almost willfully ignores the clear signs of the impending disaster that will ultimately render this argument moot. Pay attention to the role each of these family members take, and draw your own comparisons to the larger geo-political events. (Also: lots of dark humor, which is always a plus lol)
Special Screening:
“Quo Vadis, Aida?” (2020) - Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2021
Dir: Jasmila Žbanić
I don’t think I have the words to adequately express the magnitude of feeling this movie made me feel. All I can say is, please please watch it! It’s available on Hulu.
Ultimately, I am so glad that I got to attend the festival this year and I sincerely hope I will be able to attend for many more years to come.