Warriors - L'impossible mission

Warriors is a drama, but every incident you see in it is factual. The makers interviewed Infantry soldiers from UNPROFOR1 (The Cheshire Regiment) and UNPROFOR2 (The Prince Of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment).

The MoD gave the makers permission to approach soldiers who had been involved in incidents so that they could replicate them for the screen, along with what the soldier's were actually thinking and feeling at the time.

A lot of incidents were rejected on the grounds that they would not be believed by the viewing public or were just to 'bloody'.

In addition, soldiers helped the actors wear their equipment properly, act properly etc.

How do I know this? Two of the incidents depicted I was involved in. I was in the Cheshire Regiment. I have since testified in 2 war crimes trials at the Hague.

No matter what you think, believe me it was far worse than what you see. You only see it, you don't smell it.

To this day (2007) most of us that were their in that first year still have a feeling that somehow we failed those poor people and our politicians were weak.

It is very, very well made and very, very realistic as to what it was like.

As far as I´m concerned Warriors is a very realistic depiction of what it was like in Bosnia during the war. It shows the brutality being committed to civilians and how the "hopeless" Un-mandate could comfuse (and disgust) both the population and the soldiers themselves. Just look what happened in the "safe sone" of Srebrenica(!).

But one must bare in mind that the events depicted here is just in One particular region of Bosnia. Here it happenes to be the British-sector in the Travnic, Vitez, Amichi area. Some incidents I know happened (like the burned victims in the cellar) and some are most likely made up, but surely with the intent of realism in mind. Here obviosly the Serbs outnumbered the Muslims and therefor had most of the control. This I mention because after reading two comments here, both from Bosnia oe most likely to be Serb (saying that the depictions in this film are "black and white" portrayed) and one Muslim (Finding the film to be very realistic, having lived through the whole war in Sarajevo.)

Having been in bosnia myself I think I can appreciate this film more. Being shot in Tsjekkia it still looks very much like Bosnia. Although it was wery calm there then (in -99),long after the war was over. The UN had been replaced by the NATO forces(maybe a bit too late). But the work consisted of pretty much the same(except for the extreme tasks given as the result of war off cource) , driving around in our "sizu`s", working with local interpreters and keeping in touch with the local population. The following year I went to Kosovo, a more recent conflict. During that war NATO bombed Serbia in protest of the treatment given to the Albanians in Kosovo. When we arrived(early 2000) the situation had turned to the opposite and it was mostly the Serbs who had to be kept safe of the Albanians, who had started returning to Kosovo.

So I agree that there is no such thing as a "black and white" explanation of the tragedy. There was surely bad deeds made by all "sides", as in every war.

Film rates 10/10!

...and the rest of America will realize it if it is ever seen on American television. Where is PBS when you need them most? BBC America has shown this several times, without their usual commercial interruption (which should give some indication of the respect they hold for this drama), but unfortunately not many cable systems offer BBC America. PBS is dropping the ball by not picking this up for the rest of the United States to view. The writing, acting, and production values are all excellent. If only people knew what they were missing.

I, have to emphasis that, I was not in Bosnia during the wartime. But because we lived in the same state for a long time I can say that I have a good historical overview and a lot of informations from all sides involved in war in Bosnia. On that basis I think the movie is good representation of real event. It is also very good antiwar movie.

I can imagine that Serbs wont like the movie, but they have to face the truth. Sooner they realize the truth better for them and for development of their nation. The fact that all sides did war crimes is not of big help here. The fact is that pictures, like in movie, were the most common, and you have to remember who started the blood spilling and genocide. But remember it is not about people but politics who manipulate with masses. The people are the same everywhere you go; bad and good and mostly inbetween. The role of international community and UNPROFOR in Bosnia was very questionable. They let the killing of innocents before their eyes and did nothing. Even more, the UN people turned into a corrupted band who struggled only for surviving, earning money and promotions. Even on highest levels. Just remember one French general.

But like I said the people are good and bad. So I can imagine that some soldiers had a real problems with facing the unjustice and horror supported from international community.

I saw yesterday on Monte Negro TV a prewar speech from president of Bosnia,

Alija Izetbegovic who said: " Bad negotations are better then a good war." Congratulations to Monte Negro TV for independent standpoint with presentations of former enemies and to mr. Izetbegovic for a clever thought. Too bad they all did not take this idea seriously.

One more. Yesterday at night I saw this movie on Pink TV. Yes, on Serbian TV! The things are changing. Congratulations!!!

With all respect on victims on all sides.

This two-part series which was shown on TV is a description of how a majority of British UN soldiers experienced the war in former Yougoslavia.Their task was mainly a humanitarian mission based on a policy of non-intervention.This policy may have worked in the minds of well-intentioned theoreticians but was impossible to execute in the real environment of war-torn Bosnia.These soldiers were subjected to constant stress resulting from their orders not to intervene, the hostility they experienced as foreign intruders,the language barriers and the bestiality they encountered without being able to offer any significant help.The traumas that these men experienced definitely had a devastating and lasting effect on their further lives "Warriors" draws the viewer into the ongoing drama in such a convincing way that one fully grasps the frustration these soldiers must have experienced. Excellent production: a top-class cinematographic document performed by outstanding actors.