Kukumi

Isa Qosja is a thoughtful, intelligent filmmaker who, with "Kukumi," has created a haunting look at prejudice. The film isn't a simple look at the problems of the emerging Kosovo, a controversial issue that tends to draw out the worst aspects of both ethnic Albanian and Serbian artists. It's closer to the theme explored in Philippe de Broca's "Le Roi de Coeur," which says that the world is insane and only those who have lost their minds truly understand that. The irony is that Qosja doesn't take political sides: The villains, such as they are, are those who hate what they fear. And most people who encounter our three protagonists, Kukumi, Mara and Hasan - patients who have escaped from a mental institution - treat them badly. From the acting of the three principals, especially Anisa Ismaili who says virtually nothing the entire film, to the cinematography of Menduh Nushi and Qosja's blended senses of humor and tragedy, "Kukumi" has more soul than a whole decade of films created by far better-funded directors with international reputations. One note: Make sure that you see the "uncensored" version. A recent showing in Pristina, Kosovo, featured a cut to one major plot point, and it left the film making no sense whatsoever. That's not so much shameful as it is artistically criminal.

I am a Serb and Kosovo is an emotional place in our hearts. When I ordered this movie on Netflix I wasn't sure what to expect. With a relief, this movie isn't a piece of political propaganda or nationalist nonsense. This is a warm and tender metaphor about freedom or lack of it for some people. With a beginning of chaos after the conflict in 1999, the doors of the mental hospital are open and mentally ill people are trying to breathe little freedom themselves. " Kukumi" is a slow, sometimes meandering movie and its main characters seem more mentally retarded than mentally ill, but its quiet power touches your heart in the end. In the world bombarded with sounds and sensations its slow storytelling forces you to look not only around you, but into your own soul.

Not a bad movie, but for a first major movie of post-war era, a lot more was expected.

It had enough budget for a good movie, and with that regard there was a mix review from moviegoers and pretty poor ratings.

The dialog is no-existent, with poor correlation between characters, sideway story telling, and no consistent storyline.

Agree with good picture quality and scenery.

Worth watching but not an engaging movie.

2 out of 5, on purely patriotic grounds.

J.

A wonderful microcosm of how mentally challenged people try to get by in a society that has no place for them, as it itself is struggling to reconstitute after a collapse caused by war.

The cinematography feels intimate yet distant. It gives us points of view ranging from the fleeing Serbian occupiers to the returning Albanian refugee villagers.

Dialog is at a minimum. The movie, however, speaks volumes. We are left to bare with the uncomfortable silence, which makes the narrative even more powerful.

The chaotic jumble between scenes reflects the nature of the characters. Do not expect a happy ending.

Once upon a time there was a repression that nobody was able to hear about. There were people who were suffering.. and nobody heard their voice. This movie shows exactly what happened after years of repression and years of suffering to an innocent nation in Kosova, place which only a few people know about. As the movie shows.. a group of civilian people were held in place as 'prisoners of war' by the Serbian military. As soon as the Kumanovo agreement takes place, the Serbian guards leave the place and the group of people that get the freedom which they would never enjoy. The consequences of the tortures that had previously been done to them were very bad.. all the people remained with mental disorders. Kukumi, one of the main characters of the movie, is a homeless guy, whose only asset is a flute which he used to make music when he would feel down. Hasan is a young guy, whose parents die in the war and his older brother turns the back to him once he comes back to his house. And Mara is a young and beautiful homeless girl that has nothing in her life. Kukumi and Hasan fall in love with Mara. Although they would never be able to make their dream true, both of them show that they do have feelings although their brain no longer lives the real life. Kukumi, Hasan and Mara hang around the place where they used to be held but the such awaited freedom for them meant nothing. Their world remained so small, their vision would never be as before. At the end Kukumi continues his endless journey to nowhere... while Hasan and Mara go back to the place where they used to be held.. because that was the only place they felt 'comfortable' at. This is a real masterpiece of the director Isa Qosja and great credit to Luan Jaha, Donat Qosja and Anisa Ismaili for a tremendous display. This movie has already won two festivals in Balkans and could yet have another word to say in the future. This movie has also been the first production of Kosova's film company "KosovaFilmi" in the post war era here in Kosova. A great movie 10/10