Nedelja

Movie Nedelja stands out distinctly from other domestic Serbian cinematic creations. It takes you on an intense emotional journey, on a moments causing chills, tears and laughter, beautifully narrating the life and vibrant energy of the music icon from Dorchol, Dzej Ramadanovski. Nedelja movie offers much more to the audience, it masterfully portrays the youth and lives of various generations during the Yugoslav era. Watching movie instantly transports you back to childhood stirring vivid memories. The audience might find echoes of their own family stories revived. Truly, Nedelja is a cinematic masterpiece that resonates deeply on personal level.

It is truly unfortunate that the movie '"Toma'' received more praise on Imdb so far than ''Nedelja'', hence the need for writing this review, since the movie - as a whole - is indeed a work of art when compared to the other one. Scholarly and masterfully directed, with beautiful post-production and photography, stellar cast and an emotional subject for many of us, with mesmerizing blend of Oliver Mandic's music accenting the story of the last ''good spirit of Belgrade'' touched the hearts of the whole theater. Serbia didn't have such a sincere (coming of age) movie in a long, long time. Thank you.

The movie is really outstanding! Emotional, touching, but also in certain moments funny. The scenes are made to wake up and to mix the hormones of happiness and sadness. For a moment I had the feeling that Dzej was in front of me, and that he sang to me about his life. I felt some chills all over my body. His voice in the background has awoken strong emotions reminding me of many life memories in the past. The little and the big Dzej played amazing roles. Other actors were also fantastic! I don't have any criticism. I just regret not meeting the Dzej - the favourite man at Dorcol who captivated people by sincere smile and kindness.

I haven't seen such an awful movie in a while. Artistically void, hopelessly bland, with zero movie-making craft. Watches like an unsuccessful documentary - as if someone dramatized parts of Dzej's Wikipedia page. Characters are hopelessly shallow. So many narrative arcs are scratched on the surface and then just left to die - which may be forgiven had the movie managed to communicate some strong emotion - which it definitely didn't. The main character and narrator, Dzej, feels like a faded bystander in his own movie. Major things in his life just happen, and we have no explanation or exposition why - neither factographical, nor emotional, not even postmodernly artistic. What is this movie trying to do, what is trying to be? It's neither a documentary-like coherent biopic nor an arthouse examination of an artist's internal life and emotions. Nor is it anything in between - the script is just plain bad, and often, really boring. Absolutely horrid waste of time to be honest. A shame, because a movie about Dzej's life could have been really good, but the screenwriters just blew it.

In "Nedelja," the narrative fails to delve deeply into the life of the protagonist, Dzej. Instead, the film primarily focuses on secondary characters and tangential storylines, neglecting to provide a comprehensive exploration of Dzej's journey. Throughout the film, there is a notable absence of emotional depth and character development, leaving the audience disconnected from the central figure's experiences. One of the glaring weaknesses of "Nedelja" is its erratic pacing and disjointed storytelling. Scenes transition abruptly, and significant events unfold without sufficient build-up or explanation. This haphazard approach to storytelling results in a lack of coherence and makes it challenging for viewers to fully engage with the narrative. Without a cohesive structure, the film feels disjointed and lacks the emotional resonance needed to captivate the audience. Moreover, the film's treatment of Dzej's music is disappointing. Despite being a central aspect of his identity, his musical journey is sidelined in favor of superficial subplots involving mafia elements and mundane characters. The music, which could have served as a powerful means of character development and emotional expression, is relegated to the background, overshadowed by less compelling storylines. This oversight diminishes the impact of Dzej's artistry and undermines the potential for the audience to connect with his passion and creativity. Furthermore, the portrayal of the mafia subplot feels contrived and unconvincing. Rather than adding depth to the narrative, these elements come across as forced and derivative. The inclusion of mafia characters and their interactions with Dzej distracts from the central themes of the film and detracts from the authenticity of the storytelling. Instead of enhancing the overall experience, these plotlines serve as unnecessary distractions, diluting the impact of Dzej's story. Additionally, the supporting characters in "Nedelja" are underdeveloped and lack complexity. Many of them serve as mere plot devices, existing solely to advance the narrative rather than contributing meaningfully to the exploration of themes or the development of the central characters. As a result, the interactions between Dzej and these peripheral figures feel superficial and devoid of substance, further weakening the emotional core of the film. Overall, "Nedelja" fails to deliver a compelling portrayal of Dzej's life and struggles. The film's disjointed narrative, superficial treatment of music, and contrived subplots undermine its potential to resonate with audiences. While it may offer fleeting moments of entertainment, its shortcomings prevent it from achieving the emotional depth and authenticity necessary to leave a lasting impact. In its current state, "Nedelja" falls short of its ambitions and fails to fulfill its promise as a meaningful exploration of art, identity, and the human experience.