Mali Budo

As much as Yugoslavia had reputation for good movies, especially in the 1980s, ex-Yu republics are doing their best to destroy this reputation without mercy. This was meant to be a black-comedy about the Montenegrins, their tradition of vendetta and their "occupation" of Belgrade. Also, the same story could have been done as an action drama. Unfortunately, it's neither. The story dramatization and characterization are tragic. Characters are completely two-dimensional, and the story acts as a dismal joke about Montenegrins stretched for an hour and a half. Jokes based on prejudices about Montenegrins are too exaggerated for a serious film, and yet insufficiently humorous for a comedy. True, I laughed here and there, but that does not change the fact that this is a very stupid movie.

4/10

... AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MOVIE I THOUGHT THAT THAT SOCCER PLAYER WAS LITTLE BUDO (I don't watch the trailers). BUT AFTER 10 MINUTES WHEN HE DIED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, I WAS SHOCKED (OMG) HOW THE MOVIE WILL LAST WITHOUT LITTLE BUDO, AND THEN IT TURNED OUT THAT ACTUALLY THAT OTHER TOTALLY IRRELEVANT DUDE IS LITTLE BUDO. FIRST OF ALL, "LITTLE", WHAT IS LITTLE (PLAYED BY A 45-YEAR-OLD GUY), AND SECONDLY THIS IS THE WORST MAIN CHARACTER I'VE EVER SEEN. HE HAS NO CHARACTERISTICS AND THAT DOESN'T SET HIM OUT FROM THE OTHER CHARACTERS WHO ARE JUST AS DESPERATE AS HIM. LIKE I SAID, IF IT HAS TWO FUNNY JOKES, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE MOVIE IS GOOD, PERIOD.

Its rarely that such small and kind of tragic countries such as ex- Yugoslavia have kind of good cinema and theater. Overall very good dramas and comedies were kind of trademark of small but promising cinematography.

Well, this one was supposed to be a stereotype joking on Montenegrians (especially young) coming to Belgrade, kind of their second capital where they are well connected. It was supposed to present night life and thrills - or better to say temptations of Belgrade. But plot is neither dramatic or comedian enough to carry such a premise. Even it features good role of Serbian actors, and photography and camera as well as sound deserve well enough credit to say its a 2014 Serbian movie, where it fails is either good dramatization and storyline or good comedy - as said in the beginning a trademark of Serbian movies.

It was supposed to be funny - but jokes aren't fun enough, humor is weak and too stereotypical on both way Montenegrians function in Belgrade or on characters themselves. Characters even main one are not well developed, and quickly thrown in. Just as an example, main role, "little Budo" has no life goals, esteem or idea, he is just being thrown in situations. Second to him, police inspector that does dirty jobs, played by excellent Sergej Trifunovic has as sudden guilt and characterization just because of one call from a girl, even he is presented as half criminal. Risks his own head for almost no reason. So majority of things happen for no real reason and major impression is that simply they had no idea what to do with the movie.

What is worse, both Montenegrians are overall bad represented - their traditional valors, traditions or humor aren't utilized enough and things like blood vengeance are presented to be present even in 21st century (main reason why Budo is in danger and in Belgrade - while he could just come to visit a relative or study in reality) and Belgrade isn't utilized enough - worse of its clubs presented, its citizens just presented as "double faced" and in the end major Belgrade clinic VMA (Military hospital) presented as easy to infiltrate. Sad day for Serbian cinematography.

"Mali Budo" (Little Budo) is a light comedy with a pinch of black humor. Nothing special, but it is good for relaxing for an hour and a half. Camera is done well, acting is good - and what is very important - Montenegrin accent is not caricatured or overemphasized, neither was behavior of characters overemphasized based on prejudices. Movie is clean, well filmed, well cut. It is clear that there was no intention of making an artistic piece, or festival material, but it does well in terms of serving the viewer a story - not too raw, not too crisp, with a pinch of black humor. Only thing that should have been done better is adding some lines about what is actually "Blood Revenge" in some point of movie opening (or at least first 10 minutes) in a manner that would show viewers how important part of history and Montenegrin heritage it is, and that it is a part of old way to preserve family honor after one or more of members lose life from human hand. Blood Revenge may spawn for decades and generations. Apart from that, story is well presented to the viewer. Some characters should be better described (as in: giving them more background) through conversation, but the lack of it does not impair the consistency of the story. All in all - if you want to see a light comedy with a bit of black humor, you might enjoy it in some extent.

Story is indeed shallow, however it's so humorous that all viewers in cinema were laughing out loud for a good part of a movie. Characters involved are old "new" Montenegrin people, depicted mostly as is with some artistic emphasis of their bad behavioral characteristics, as well those from Montenegro who settled Serbian capital during communist regime in Yugoslavia, most of them corrupted and on some institutional positions or criminals connected with forenamed. It's humorous because it's mostly true, and if not true then certainly possible, as vendetta, bribing, and corruption with in police, health care and education is still present in Balkan countries.

I would recommend one to see this movie.