Varuh meje

Three `big city' college beauties use their summer vacation to go on a backwoods canoe trip down the Kolpa river which divides off limits Croatia from Slovenia. Overtly ominous background music and `Peeping Tom' camera angles warn us of the wild dangers this world has to offer. Yet what appears at first to be a Slovinian `Blair Witch Project' develops instead into a slightly murky exploration of political, cultural and religious constraints. Fearless lesbian, Zana, is looking for love and acceptance and tries to get it from her friend Alja. Simona wants to be seduced and begins to imagine the local xenophobic traditionalist as her Prince Charming. Alja seeks independence from her cloying boyfriend, overbearing father, judgmental roommate Simona and now her new lover Zana. In addition to confronting their own demons on the journey the girls are confronted with homophobia, racism, nationalism, traditionalism, sexism and terrorism. Unfortunately much of the film's impact gets lost towards the end as it oscillates too wildly between fantasy and reality. This film does however provide high production values, fine acting, an intriguing concept, sophisticated humor, gorgeous locals and a delightful Slovenian pop soundtrack.

Varuh meje (2002), shown here as "Guardian of the Frontier" is an unsettling film. Three young female college students take what is supposed to be a relaxing canoe trip down a scenic river in Slovenia.This is not a nature movie, so we know things will go wrong, and things definitely go very wrong.

Ultimately, the students find themselves in a small, rural village, which appears eminently safe. At that point, the film reminded me of Southern Comfort (1981). In Southern Comfort, urban soldiers of the Louisiana National Guard are lost in a swamp, attacked by local inhabitants, and then enter a village of "good Cajuns" who may or may not be what they seem.

The tension in both films derives from the reaction of people who, while extremely competent in their own environment, find themselves in an environment where new skills are needed if they are to survive.

"Guardian of the Frontier" provides some lovely footage of Slovenian scenery, and some unexpected themes–-the artificiality

of the separation between two tiny countries--Slovenia and

Croatia--xenophobia, and rural/urban prejudices.

This is certainly not a must-see movie. On the other hand, how often do we get a chance to see any Slovenian movie in Upstate New York? "Guardian of the Frontier" is worth seeing near

home or on VHS or DVD. It's not a film for which it's worth a special trip to Slovenia to view without subtitles.

Can't recommend this silly effort unless you're really into Slovenian T&A.

Three potty-mouthed bratz from Ljubljana canoe topless to Croatia seemingly unaware of the distraction they cause to the local peasantry. Hm... or are they really so unwitting?

Throughout the overlong running time, these three empty-headed boobs talk obsessively about sex and advertise their young bodies to old men, grannies, retards and wildlife. Eventually they provoke the response they are looking for, bringing down the wrath of the ancient Slavic pagans.

The theme of contemporary banality vs. primeval mysticism is presented symbolically and would have been more successful if it had been taken further in this direction. What the viewer is left with is a film about how women instinctively eroticize their fears, particularly their fear of The Other - a philosophical concept much in favor throughout the writings of Slovenian academic Zizek. The Other here is symbolized by the creepy wilderness of Croatia where folk are lawless, inscrutable and potentially deadly. Our girls absorb just enough terror and brutality to lubricate their sex lives and one girl is apparently led to ovulation - the deepest chamber of her womanhood.

And when they finally escape their frenzied all-night ordeal they return to the prosaic comforts of civilization, where beer tastes crappy, rock bands suck, relationships fall apart and old coots still make lame passes at teenage hotties.

So, Guardians of the Border really only succeeds in being a sexy travelogue. If only Croatia really were this interesting...

During the first 20 or so minutes of the movie, I was afraid that this was going to be yet another cheap attempt to make a day-horror film: three girls take a trip down the river dividing Slovenia and Croatia.

But, it turned out to be one of the best films from Slovenia I have ever seen. The movie is not an attempt at excellent directing or acting. All of the technical accepts are very average, but good enough to make you concentrate on the actual plot.

Not that there is a clear-cut plot. The movies is more of a statement, or a description, of differences between good and bad, moral and immoral and different understandings of social norms.

Although the film does deal with LGBT issues, it seems that Maja Weiss is only using this theme to deal with many more issues.

Characters are never developed and I didn't get the feeling that the movie is about them, they simply represent certain aspects of society.

As the film takes place in Slovenia (and Croatia), I would recommend to watch it, since it takes a different approach than "western" movies dealing with these kinds of issues would.

True and (sur)realistic! If you want to know what it is like to be a growing up woman in a small European country go and see it. The end is a little bit confusing, what is typical of Slovene movies, but what struck me the most was the director's message in the end which says LOVE IS A DREAM... DEDICATED TO MYSELF