Kako je poceo rat na mom otoku

This film is trying to give a look on the Croatian war of independence from what was then Yugoslavia a look with humor. Although at that time there was no humor in it at all. For us who stayed alive to write these lines, I can vouch to you that it was pure hell which materialized on Earth in the period of 1991-1995.

Plot is base on a true story on the island of Vis, which harbored substantial Yugoslav Navy base which became unwelcome on the island overnight as Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia. Time was September of 1991.

I would like to tell you that I laughed with the film, but because I remember so well horrors of the war I could not laugh. I will leave that to you.

The best Croatian movie, great jokes, but also shows complexity of Yugoslav war, especially in small rural areas. Recommended.

A charming black comedy that illustrates the complexities of Yugoslavia's division on the simplistic small town level. National troops have ordered a bunker to be set up, calling on the many of the local sons (who are serving as soldiers) under the command of a local businessman. The neighborhood branch of the resistance, led by the local plumber, tries desperately to disarm the camp peacefully so the boys can all get home for dinner.

An old man stumbles onto the scene in search of his son, because he simply has to go home (we never find out why). He naively wanders up to loaded guns and armed soldiers explaining "his wife will get really mad."

He teams up with the resistance, and a brilliant scheme results to disarm the self-destructive bunker.

The script is tight and full of political satire, and never borders on talky or grandiose. The array of colorful characters in the town are extreme, crazy, but utterly believable, human, and vital to the story.

The intense caper is pulled off with such masterful suspense-filled direction that is reminiscent of Chinatown or the Dirty Dozen.

Considering this is a film about the Yugoslav wars, particularly the Croatian war for Independence, made in a Balkan nation shortly after the war, I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting a typical war film, focusing on demonizing the "other side" (Serbs, Bosniaks) and rewriting the history books like "Undeground" or "Pretty Village, Pretty Flame". But instead the film does not vilify anyone nor create a victim complex. The film is focused on a group of Yugoslav soldiers who plan to join the effort of fighting for the country's (Croatia) Independence, defecting from the Yugoslav army. Other Croats seem to view it their duty to uphold Yugoslav unity and stay. Without spoiling anything, the viewpoints of both pro-Independence Croats and pro-Yugoslavia Croats is given a humane view. Betray your fellow soldiers or your fellow people? The film is neither anti nor pro Yugoslavia. Truly a breath of fresh air in terms of a war film. Carnage is into the focus, but the complicated life decisions each character is making as the war unravels.

Good movie. Lots of good jokes, probably not so funny for someone outside Central Europe. All in all, one of the best products of Croatian cinema in recent years.