Sablja

As an average viewer I cannot talk about the scenario, or acting or directing or the way the story was led. I can only say that I liked it even though me and my family and friends we were all feeling awfull after every episode.

Actually I cried after each of the episode. Why? This is a tale about my country and our failure as citizens of Serbia to build better society after Milosevics regime.

The assassination of our prime minister and the events that followed it in this series are not described like how it actually happened. (Documentaries exist for those who want credibility).

Sablja is, in fact, used just as a frame to explain and describe what is happening nowdays. The autors are depicting actions that contributed to a condition of an imprisoned state where we all in Serbia live in.

The main characters are carefully selected as a policeman, a criminal in the making (by not so odd consequences) and an ambitious journalist. They are the key for understanding when and how everything went wrong. Now it is up to us to decide what should we do with this sense of injustice and wether we should overlook fake licenses and literally bloody cash.

So far, I have mixed feelings.

The production is excellent. The opening credits are impactful, and both the music and cinematography are high quality. Thriller elements are well-executed, intense and keep you engaged.

However, the story lacks courage and a critical edge, like it's been smoothed over to avoid bothering anyone.

I'm disappointed with how Vladimir Beba Popovic was portrayed. Some key figures as well as some of today's prominent politicians aren't even mentioned (yet) and their absence is noticeable.

The "Zemun clan" members aren't well introduced, so unless viewers are underworld experts, it's unclear who's who among the many characters. It's a bit confusing!

There are too many characters who show up briefly, don't get enough development, and then disappear completely. I think the story is too complex and needs more episodes.

Milica Gojkovic and Lazar Tasic deliver outstanding performances. Their acting is refreshingly authentic and deeply sincere. Dubravka Kovjanic is superb! This might be one of her career highlights. Ljubomir Bandovic is simply outstanding. Fedja Stukan is excellent. And yes, he is very handsome! Andjelika Simic is mesmerizing in her miniature and I hope to see more of her.

4 stars are for actor casting selection, acting and production of this drama. Good job on that, everithing else is way off of how it actually happend!

I found everything else as misleading for this history event with not enough information. If there where used only a few information and evidences from autopsies of the victims - this scenario would be a lot more close to the truth with much bigger drama and action impact which would be beneficial for the whole project.

Political background (domestic and foreign) at the time is covered poorly, evan though it was crutial for the assasination and later political path of Serbia.

Djindjic made actual patriotic stance from 2002 by forcing return of serbian troops to Kosovo, supporting Republika Srpska, not willing to support fake and selective international court in Hague by providing them military documentation from war - instead he insisted of indivitual responsibility for each war crime.

Prime minister (Djindjic) and his bodyguard (Veruovic) were shot with 2 different bullet calibers. Role of politician Jovanovic (who was a junkie and connected to the Zemun klan) is misrepresented at a big scale, except for one scene where he has been involved in decision making for catching Dusan Spasojevic.

Fake serbian patriots who are politically active evan today, were not thrilled to see Djindjic doing some actual work because they planned to monetize those topics for their own good not for the good of serbian people (which is cristal clear today in 2024). Also his stance was not aligned with plans of international political agenda's for the Balkans. If you check which companies outside of Serbia are supporting Sablja series - you will see who is controlling this whole process in the last 22 years. Fake patriots and international western politics agenda.

If the film crew wanted to present some truth to Serbian people benefit - they had to do some actual and extra work. They could start from the victim bodyguard Veruovic - but I am sure that wasn't allowed.

The series tells a story through several fictional characters (though some of them display attributes of real-life figures) about the period and atmosphere in the country before and after the assassination of the Prime Minister. It brilliantly portrays that time and the connection between politicians, security services, and organized crime.

The era is described exceptionally well. Of course, not all real-life figures are included, but even this simplified version is a hot mess for those who didn't live through that period. It's important to consider that in reality, around 30 people were on the wanted list, and when you add the internal and external political dynamics, you get a chaos that cannot be fully depicted in a series.

Some fictional characters are designed to combine elements of multiple real-life individuals, which is a good approach to showcasing the values people stood for during that time.

It's an excellent series for those seeking a dramatic narrative. However, if you're looking for factual accuracy and detailed insights, it's better to watch one of the many documentaries on the subject.

Although there is clearly some 'artistic license' taken with certain historical facts around this assassination and the break-up of Yugoslavia, there was enough to make it worth watching. The acting is generally very good and the pace just right. Some characters were truly despicable and hard to digest, but unfortunately, there were, and are still, far too many of these goons still active. Seeing how secret militias and certain armed/criminal groups are able to control the ruling government and institutions is a warning that this is still going on and that similarities with certain current regimes are all too familiar. History does indeed repeat itself time and time again. A sad but true commentary on the state of politics and populations that accept this corrupt and despicable way of existing. Hard to watch at times but some important themes are presented. Solid series overall.