Dva igraca s klupe

I was really surprised with this movie. I expected another solid movie from Croatian film-makers but instead we have very good movie about two people who find themselves in weird situation. Ante Jukić (Goran Navojec) is Croat and Duško Katran (Borko Perić) is Serb who besides fought on opposite sides in the war, both used to be volleyball players. There is little chance of them ever meeting again. At the same time Hague has indicted Colonel Skoko. The two main witnesses to his defense, Mato and Joso, have disappeared without a trace and now Skoko's contact Antiša must find two people who look like Mato and Joso. You can guess who might that be.

So we've got very good script and actors. Especially Borko Perić, who is brilliant in the role of Duško. It is funny to see how people are thinking in these situations and director Dejan Šorak very good showed us at first how Ante and Duško can't stand each other, but towards the end they actually have same goals. 7/10

Not bad, but nothing out of the ordinary either. I can understand how eclectic western commentators can get excited about such movies, thinking that they are much 'deeper' than what they actually are, but this is only because they have no knowledge whatsoever of what the reality on the ground in the Balkans is (a unique mixture of love, hate and indifference). To make a film like this is rather easy for someone who lives there, understands the people, to simply make a movie depicting the current reality, things that actually happen, the way people really are. The one thing the film does with a certain effectiveness is a parody of the War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague, which is well deserved, since it serves no other purpose but to appease the Wests' dirty conscience (and public opinion) as well as to help achieve further political goals that the mostly European Foreign Offices have set for themselves (no wonder the US wants to have nothing to do with it...).

The film can essentially be divided into three parts. The beginning which was rather promising, the intermediate part which was basically boring, and the ending which saved the movie from being a total flop. This because it was smart, funny, and above all, totally unexpected. The acting was very good by both leads. The script, soundtrack and cinematography could have been much better though...

This is a rather light, but very entertaining and funny movie. The humor is very healthy for the most part, and surprisingly enough in the context of the Croatian comedy, quite successful. As a viewer, you would need a little of suspension of belief, as the plot ain't got much of a chance to pass in reality, but whaddaheck - you'll enjoy watching it a lot. Acting - superb, almost perfect on Navojec's part. That fellow can imitate local dialects. Tarik is good too, though his role was not too demanding.

A thumb up!

(This is yet another proof how for a good film one only needs a good script, a couple of talented actors, and an old house. No special effects. I.e. to use a piece of zen wisdom: these have to come from within... :))