A Serbian Film

I've written a book and some articles about film censorship, so given the controversy looming around this particular film, and its highly interesting release history in the UK (read wikipedia for more), I got my hands on a pre-release uncensored copy. What's very interesting is that apart from some suggestive shots hinting at pedophilia and the extension of the film's most gruesome, unforgettable scene, it's all there, only left to the imagination - leaving me with the question I've come up with whenever confronted with such a case: if censorship leaves certain aspects to the spectator's imagination, isn't the effect even more stimulating?

Yes, 'A Serbian Film' undoubtedly runs for the title of the yuckiest film ever. Yes, it's definitely reveling in the very muck it pretends to criticize, i.e. the complete and total moral decay of our times. I would have very much favored an incorporation of the (presumably Western) consumers of the kind of pornography it deals with, for that remains the film's weakest aspect: the social commentary is quite accurate, but not sufficiently explored.

And yet, 'A Serbian Film' is still unmistakably a piece of art. The technical specs are top-notch for such a limited budget. The acting, especially Sergej Trifunovic as psychiatrist-turned-porn producer Vukmir, is nothing short of (disturbingly) wonderful. And most important of all: the underlying anger appears to be real. I was in Serbia for a festival last year (prior to this film's release), and cannot help but remember how similar some opinions and stories I heard were to the views expressed in this film. That being said, I completely understand why Serbs were outraged at this film. Being born in Romania, which has an equal share of ethical bankruptcy, I must admit that if this had been made in Romania, and called 'A Romanian Film', I would be very very mad.

This is one of those rare pieces of celluloid which will most likely not allow for any neutral point of view, like 'Mondo Can(nibal)e', or Pasolini's 'Salo', or the collected films of Catherine Breillat. The difference for me is that I usually dislike films of this nature because of their wantonly exploitative nature serving no narrative purpose; that purpose, however, exists in 'A Serbian Film', making it all the more disturbing and relevant.

Consider this not exactly as a review, but as a warning from a friend, in case you haven't seen this film yet and are curious about it. There are already many good reviews here dealing with the cinematographic, technical, cultural etc aspects of this film, so I won't add anything new there. This is not about the film, but about you, the potential viewer.

As many other reviewers, I've seen a significant amount of "extreme" or strong horror movies. Fear and shock are powerful emotions, and films are a safe and entertaining way of experiencing them. Some of them left a deep impression in me, sometimes for a few days, but that eventually vanishes.

With this film, it's a different story. It may leave permanent scars in your mind that will ruin some of the best experiences of your life, such as witnessing the birth of your child or lying in bed caressing a son's hair. Violent and obscene thoughts will keep intruding, and it's scary for me to think how much this can affect some people. If you think that you may belong to this group, don't risk it. There are many good films out there, and you may go on living without watching this one. Otherwise, go and watch it, but just remember that images can not be erased from your brain aftewards.

This is why this is so different. The fear does not come during the movie. It comes after. And it is too real.

I will just right off the bat state that you, quite simply, cannot unwatch this movie. It's important that everyone realizes that there is no unringing this bell. You will almost certainly wish you could unsee it, and if not or worse, you enjoyed it, you need to be on a government list available to the public. It goes from shady, to dark, to disturbing, to depraved. But then it gets so far beyond that that you may actually find yourself trying to turn it off only to realize it's too late and you forever know what happened in the.. climax... (surely there has to be a better word). Since 2013 when I saw it, I've become a father and eventual single parent to a son. I couldn't imagine seeing this again.

I will say though, that if you are someone who likes really pushing your comfort level and challenging your psyche with incredibly difficult material, then this should be on your list, because after you survive this, you can watch slightly less disturbing, but far better films with the knowledge that at least what you're watching isn't A Serbian Film. In all seriousness, the absolute summit of Mt Heinous here is one of those things that is so horrible we collectively just do not ever think about it for the sake of our own wellbeing. I said on a reddit post that knowing the name of this movie is a legitimate infohazard. I believe that is a completely true statement.

Best of luck if you dare take this film on. I wish I could unsee it, but I also know that I can handle any other work of fiction for having been naively self-inflicted with this... thing.

I don't really know where to start... At first I didn't know what to think. There are so many nasty, nasty scenes in this film. So it took quite a while to really "digest" it. It truly is a nasty film. I didn't think it was possible to make such a film and get away with it!

But there's more to it. It's not JUST a nasty film. It's a nasty film with something to say. It's got something to say about money, about art, about family and about life in the "not-as- rich" parts of the "civilized" world. I think this movie is a part of a cleansing. A cry to the world; don't let sick stuff happen. It might just be me, but I thought I could see all that through out the film.

It is a very well made movie. The acting is solid to the end. The camera-work is just superb. Lighting, sets and costumes are just delicious! It's got texture. A look of it's own. The gore effects are also unbelievably well made. That is why this film is so hard to watch. It all seems a little too real to be entertaining. I love gore film, I do. But I prefer the campy ones with obviously fake gore. It's just too real to be comfortable.

So I'll give this movie a solid 7 out of 10.

It's really good but it's also really hard to watch.

Controversial, graphic, violent, unsettling, disturbing, devastating & disgusting but an underrated cinema nonetheless that dares to explore the darkest side of adult industry, there's no denying that A Serbian Film is destined to upset majority of viewers with its gross, sickening & utterly discomforting subject matter which is exactly its motive but looking beyond its on- screen depiction of every taboo, it's also a pretty bold piece of filmmaking.

Set in Serbia, the film tells the story of Milos; a well-past-his-prime porn star who's happily married & has a son but the family is going through financial difficulties. Contacted by one of his former colleagues who has a job offer for him, Milos is introduced to the new director & finally agrees to participate in an "art film" only to discover that he's been drafted into making a pedophilia & necrophilia themed snuff film.

Brilliantly directed, fairly performed, effectively paced, superbly handling the elements of suspense & featuring many deeply disturbing sequences from start to finish, A Serbian Film is certainly not for the faint-hearted or the easily distressed or even a completely normal human being plus its so-called political allegory is nothing but an excuse to justify the pervertedness depicted here as the only reason why this film exists is to shock the viewers in the name of art.

Yet, a story like this needed to surface on the screen not because it has a motive but because it represents a far darker side of world which most people choose to ignore, despite being aware of its existence. On an overall scale, A Serbian Film is an extremely unnerving story about porn industry but is definitely not porn plus it isn't afraid to jump deep into the abyss & bring everything to the surface, which it manages to do in an unflinching manner.

Yes it's going to leave you emotionally scarred & No, you don't have to watch it just for the sake of it. Make your mind multiple times before you hit the play button and for those who think they can handle this stuff, just when you'll be thinking that this sadistic experience is finally over & you're almost out of this dark tunnel, the final line just before the end credits will do enough damage to break all hell loose. Watch it at your own risk.