Il cerchio perfetto

War torn Sarajevo and life turns into a game as you play dodge the bullets. Hamza, (Mustafa Nadarevic), is a poet with visions of his own death by hanging, a way to escape the misery that surrounds him. Until one night he stumbles upon two orphans who put a hold on his misery as he attempts to get them out of hell. War is ugly but those who suffer are the ones with a will for peace and harmony.

Finished watching this fabulous movie few minutes ago. I'll try to summarize my view as short as I can. This movie shows war as it is; mindless decisions of those who started it, poor people struggling to survive and find better future, orphans problems, war criminal etc., and how it affects on society (family!) and individuals (suicides). Mustafa Nadarevic did a great role in movie, by making enormous efforts (greater than he gave to his own family) to give two orphans chance to survive and at last, better future. Even he haves drinking problems, he can abstain himself not doing wrong decisions and think reasonably. He deserved more prizes for his characteristic style and honest acting.

Almedin Leleta and his movie brother Almir Podgorica, 10 and 13 years old when movie was first shown, also empathized their orphans roles and shown great talent. Sincerely, I can only recommend you this movie, particularly if you are from war affected country.

This could have been a very depressive movie depicting the pointlessness, destruction and despair of war. In a war torn, besieged Sarajevo, society disintegrates, people's lives are shattered and normalcy becomes a dream.

Instead this film is an elegy to humanity that manages to beat the odds and survive through acts of love and compassion. Of course, there are many films like that, but in this one, the director manages, shorty after the end of the war, while the wounds are still fresh, to avoid to focus on any political or ethnical issues and is concentrating on the human factor and this is what makes this film so powerful. People, all sorts of people are trapped in the hell that is Sarajevo, friends and enemies alike.

The plight of the innocents to survive, each hour, each day and night, escaping random and senseless indiscriminate dying is heart rending, but there is hope expressed by the two children and contrasted strongly with the despair of the poet, that cannot find a solace in his art: "who cares about art now?", he wonders. Or "how can nightmares be worse than what we are living through now?".

Very good acting from the main characters, especially from the children, fine directing and haunting photography of a ruined Sarajevo. A must see!

Balkan cinema, often overlooked and undervalued by Western audiences and festivals, mirrors the West's historical disregard for the Balkans, particularly Bosnia. This unfortunate pattern of neglect extends to Ademir Kenovic's 1997 masterpiece, "Savrseni Krug" ("The Perfect Circle"), a profoundly underrated film that offers an intimate and unflinching look at the Bosnian genocide.

The film's power lies in its raw authenticity. The performances are unvarnished and naturalistic, drawing viewers into the lives of ordinary people caught in the maelstrom of war. The set design is meticulous, recreating the war-torn streets of Sarajevo with harrowing realism. And the cinematography is nothing short of breathtaking, capturing both the beauty and brutality of the conflict.

"The Perfect Circle" is more than just a war film. It's a poignant exploration of human resilience, compassion, and the enduring power of hope in the face of unimaginable suffering. The film's central character, Hamza, a poet struggling to survive in a besieged city, embodies the indomitable spirit of the Bosnian people. His unexpected bond with two orphaned boys, Adis and Kerim, is a testament to the enduring power of love and connection, even amidst the chaos of war.

The film's title, "The Perfect Circle," refers to Hamza's ability to draw perfect circles, a metaphor for his unwavering belief in the possibility of order and beauty, even in the midst of destruction. This unwavering optimism, however naive it may seem, is ultimately what sustains Hamza and the boys through their ordeal.

"The Perfect Circle" is a film that deserves to be seen and remembered. It's a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of bearing witness to the suffering of others. It's a film that challenges us to confront our own complacency and to never forget the lessons of history.

A solid film, mixing raw war-horror with its psychological effects and challenges; chiefly, the immense grief and struggle that is associated with attempting to live and survive.

I cannot fathom how a person can go through something as traumatic and devastating as a genocidal civil war, and manage to release a film about it only 2 years after the bullets stopped flying, and the bombs stopped bursting. I could not possibly arrange my thoughts in any coherent way after dealing with something the likes of this, at least not for a long, long time. So much of it otherwise turns to noise. It is an absolute miracle that Kenovic was able to put something out of this quality, this quickly. I think he really did something serviceable here.

Part of why I find this movie incredible: the film cameras, the set, the actors; everyone and everything is nearly completely authentic. It is an almost absolutely sure thing that any person you look at in this movie lost many loved ones to the sort of scenes they depict and act within. It is possible that many of the actors were already in Sarajevo before joining this production. Their acting would involve simply going about their lives like it was yesterday. The buildings, rubble, and general devastation you see, is more than likely just how Sarajevo still was at time, due to the extent of the shelling and gunfire fire the city endured helplessly during those nearly 4 years of time. There would have been no difficulty in finding shoot locations, clothes, military costumes...It was more than readily available. Really, it was all quite regular.

Barring any number of sentiments on the writing itself, I think that really makes this to be something special and one-of-a-kind. But really. I think it's simply a good movie.