Kako je poceo rat na mom otoku

I saw "Kako je poceo rat na mom otoku" (called "How the War Started on My Island" in English) at the 1999 Portland International Film Festival. This movie does the unthinkable: it tells a funny story relating to Yugoslavia's dissolution. And it does a good job. Based partly on a true story, it focuses on a bunch of people besieging a military installation on a Dalmatian island, demanding that Yugoslavia's army leave. Much of what happens seems to be there for comic relief, such as when a soldier shows how he had sex with a woman. But overall, it's a really good, really funny movie. And we can still say that, even knowing what ended up happening after Yugoslavia dissolved.

This film is trying to give a look on the Croatian war of independence from what was then Yugoslavia a look with humor. Although at that time there was no humor in it at all. For us who stayed alive to write these lines, I can vouch to you that it was pure hell which materialized on Earth in the period of 1991-1995.

Plot is base on a true story on the island of Vis, which harbored substantial Yugoslav Navy base which became unwelcome on the island overnight as Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia. Time was September of 1991.

I would like to tell you that I laughed with the film, but because I remember so well horrors of the war I could not laugh. I will leave that to you.

Good movie. Lots of good jokes, probably not so funny for someone outside Central Europe. All in all, one of the best products of Croatian cinema in recent years.

A charming black comedy that illustrates the complexities of Yugoslavia's division on the simplistic small town level. National troops have ordered a bunker to be set up, calling on the many of the local sons (who are serving as soldiers) under the command of a local businessman. The neighborhood branch of the resistance, led by the local plumber, tries desperately to disarm the camp peacefully so the boys can all get home for dinner.

An old man stumbles onto the scene in search of his son, because he simply has to go home (we never find out why). He naively wanders up to loaded guns and armed soldiers explaining "his wife will get really mad."

He teams up with the resistance, and a brilliant scheme results to disarm the self-destructive bunker.

The script is tight and full of political satire, and never borders on talky or grandiose. The array of colorful characters in the town are extreme, crazy, but utterly believable, human, and vital to the story.

The intense caper is pulled off with such masterful suspense-filled direction that is reminiscent of Chinatown or the Dirty Dozen.

The best Croatian movie, great jokes, but also shows complexity of Yugoslav war, especially in small rural areas. Recommended.