Sejtanov ratnik

This is a film thought up and executed by a 25 year old University student, Stevan Filipovic. After a fallow period in Serbian cinema, Setjanov Ratnik has been welcomed as a re-birth of Serbian cinematography.

Filipovic worked for 7 years on this project and with a group of fellow students realised a dream only made possible by their joint passion and commitment. They found backers to cover the modest production costs and managed to pay a handful of professional actors to appear in it. When you consider the economic weakness of Serbia, this is remarkable.

Filipovic and a colleague even executed the CGI effects themselves - effects that bear comparison with those of Hollywood movies. The story is complicated and in Western terms not the most original but the treatment Filipovc gives it is very much his own. There is a lot of humour, political satire and references to ancient Serbian history and folklore. If this film ever comes out with English subtitles, be sure you don't miss it. After years of empty cinemas, the people of cities like Belgrade and Novi Sad are flocking in their hundreds and tickets have been sold out since the premiere on April 19th.

Although it was advertised as a horror, this movie is actually a very decent comedy. People who dislike it, usually don't understand the idea behind it. I'd say it's one of those movies with the spirit (like Minje!).

If taken seriously, the story is (although watchable) nothing special or unseen before. I enjoyed watching the stereotypical "Serbian Bad Guy" comments on supernatural and terrifying situations. It is also notable that this movie is done mostly by young talents from the academy and that it features the best visual effect in Serbian cinematography yet. Way to go people!

All in all, I enjoyed the movie, and I consider it one of my favorites. I would recommend it to everyone.

Got it recently on DVD and couldn't wait to watch it. But after 15 minutes of watching it I was so disappointed and bored! Maybe I expected too much by watching a trailer (big mistake). I think this movie is boring and bad. All good about it is that it has special audio/visual effects unseen in Serbian cinematography, and that it's a work of a young enthusiasts. OK, so they got some fancy equipment and they know how to use a Mac G5, but that's not most important thing, because everything else, the acting (except the acting of older Serbian actors), the plot, etc. is bad. The main actors are young and unexperienced (mostly still on academy). A mixture of urban Belgrade life and fairytale with monsters just doesn't work! It just proved my statement that newest Serbian cinematography is definitely not worth watching.

Yes, it was an extremely well made movie considering the age of Filipovic, the lack of funds and resources in Serbia. But 7.9/10 for the current average vote!?! Voting for IMDb is not to be taken from the standpoint of someone following the state of current Serbian cinema. Give it a more realistic mark compared to ALL the movies available. It really deserves about the 3/10 I gave it - I would've given it a 2/10, but not for the fact that I need to respect the fact that it was made with great difficulty. The movie did display some excellent hope for the future of Serbian movie-making (and Filipovic's next projects), but it doesn't help that the nationalists won elections the other day... Can't wait for the next round of anti-Western propaganda!... What a waste of a good country - when will they finally wake up and smell the roses?...

The movie is very funny. If you are an advanced war crime humor enjoyer you will like this film a lot. The cuts between scenes with completely different atmospheres can be so funny, plus adding the plot sometimes just doesn't make sense. If you know a bit of Serbian history (nisi stranac niko vam Srbije ovo ne gleda) you will find it very funny when the Knez of Serbia Karadjordje fights a Turkish demon sheitan that the film is based on. The acting is top-notch and you sometimes forget you are watching a movie. Best enjoyed with a drink or two. You will tear your stomach muscles by just laughing.