WAR- No Man's GAIN!!!!. Review on No Man's Land Movie

Danis Tanovic's ''No Man's Land'' won the Best Screenplay award at last year's Cannes Film Festival, and OSCAR for the best foreign film beating our very own LAGAAN. Before the first half of the film was over, I was able to tell exactly why. After watching this film even Amir Khan should have figured his Lagaan had no chance in hell.

PLOT:

A Bosnian (Ciki - pronounced Chiki) and a Serb( Nino) get stuck in the middle of a battleground into a trench -- in neutral no man's land.. The men obviously are not fond of each other, but the situation prevents them from killing each other. When they discover another Bosnian (Chiki’s friend Cera) in the trench with a mine stuck under him, things get a little more complicated. And to complicate things further come the UN forces & the media.

No Man’s Land is a rare human War movie without the phony heroism of the usual Hollywood war film. It’s a Bosnian film. The Direction is perfect - as good as u can get. The cinematography is the highlight of the film. What strikes you while watching the film is the beautiful surroundings which makes the whole war look more cruel. And the credit goes to the camerawork. It doesn’t try to look grungy & dark. But the best part of the film is the screenplay & acting. The heart & soul of any good film.

The whole cast is brilliant to the T. Branko Djuric has a very charming screen presence. Rene Bitorajac as Nino is as convincing as a new recruit. The rest of the cast is equally good. Even the cameos are as competent as the lead actors. I liked the French kid who has a puzzled look through out the film. In one scene he is even shown listening to Trance music in his earphones when the whole scene is totally messed up.

No Man’s Land doesn’t explain how the whole war started but there’s a very funny scene where both the guys argue about who started the war. It shows UN peacekeeping forces as total screwballs more worried about their public image than saving lives. Infact they are not even doing that. They deliver some food relief everyday to the Bosnian side & do not interfere in the war at all. So much for peacekeepers!!!!

Even the media is not spared. Their quest for ratings at any cost is shown. But to be fair they also show how media uses inside information to get things done for the benefit of the people.

The movie is funny throughout but ends on a very grim note just to remind u that its not funny at all.

Quotes- ( MilindDesai style)

1) You can’t be neutral facing murder. Doing nothing to stop it is taking sides.

2) Why do soldiers always carry photographs?

3) CERA- “First they shoot at me, then I wake up on a mine….the whole world is watching me, I need to sh1t & you piss me off with your stupid stories.”

3) 2 UN guys are watching a Mine Expert trying to defuse a bomb.

“They say a Mine Expert only ever makes one mistake”

“ Two mistakes”      “ How come?”

“ The first is when he chooses the job.”

4) Ciki-“You vultures wanna film it? Ou get good money? Does our misery pay well?”

5) “Know the difference between an Optimist & a Pessimist?”

“ No What?”

“ A pessimist thinks things can’t get worse. An optimist knows they can”.

6) Cera-“Ciki don’t let me die here”

Ciki-“ Hey…I’m staying here with you. If you die, I die too”

Cera-“ What comfort…huh!!!”

No Man’s Land is a anti war movie with soul …in the same mould as PLATOON, Born on the 4th of July, Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now.

LAGAAN was a great film no doubt. But when u compare it with this film it loses out clearly. Amir Khan was right. There is no shame in losing out to a brilliant film like this one. Infact it must be an honour to be put in the same league as this.

NOTE: I just noticed lotsa comments on the other review on the same film asking if the english version is available. My advice is to watch any film in the same language as was made with sub titles instead of a dubbed version. Dubbing takes out something vital from the film. I inscreased the volume to FULL after 5 minutes, even though I don't understand the language.

''I may not have PhD in 'feelmz,' but I know what I don't like!''

mAINAK