Jagoda u supermarketu

Neatly made, though nothing spectacular film from Yugoslavia (Serbia). Has a made-for-television feel to it (though i'm not sure if this is the case, or if this film had a cinema release in it's homeland).

Some of the attempts at slapstick comedy just did not work, our hijacker constantly slipping on the floor wore thin after about the second time. The mocking of the police by the crowd was rather unrealistically childish.

Hard to find any fault with the acting performances working with a threadbare script.

My advice put your brain into stand-by mode & just let this film take you for a rather silly ride. 5/10

It could have been sharp comedy about globalization, one small Balkan country in transition, romance, confusion and charming local customs. Like making fun of police, taking any chance to organize demonstrations, taking any chance to make fun of Americans, globalization, recent Balkan history, current political situation and Serbian mentality. This combo is spiced by personal stories of main characters who turn out to be confused and lost in today's world. Main music theme, hilarious brass band cover of "Lost in Supermarket" (Clash) represents personal stories of Jagoda and Marko, who are both indeed "lost in supermarket". Sounds irresistible, considering the fact that cast has one of top Serbian comedy actors.

All of the above is shaded by "could have been". What this film really turned out to be is confused as main characters. But, while Jagoda and Marko seem to find their place in the world, this movie doesn't. It lacks dynamics and consistent story line. It's up to actors to shape and liven up the movie and they truly did their best. But it takes more then charming Branka Katic's smiles, hilarious facial expressions by Srdjan Todorovic or ruthless mockery of police forces to make great comedy.

While very idea is good, both writing and directing fail to meet quality of "it could have been" factor. Kudos to casting and production team who did their job with flying colors. Worth watching only if you are fan of Branka Katic, Srdjan Todorovic, Danilo Lazovic or local football champion "Red Star".

While this is by no means an incredible film, one must appreciate that it's much better fare than most romantic comedies. I disagree with the perception of the film as a justification for the Milosevic years. In my opinion, it presents the view that the old leaders had their problems, and that people must be careful to ensure that new problems don't develop. It's ridiculous to assume that condemnation of the present necessarily implies glorification of the past.

The acting is great, with Jagoda and Marko coming across as absolutely hilarious. The choice of the Clash's "Lost in the Supermarket" was divine, and the brass rendition of it throughout the film adds to the football pitch atmosphere outside of the supermarket. A delight for non-Yugoslav film goers and the more initiated alike.

Reading the other comments on this film I have to say I might view this film differently if I understood the current socio-political climate in Serbia or the mindsets of the peoples living there. While it had definite moments of social commentary and a few political digs thrown in, I watched this movie primarily as a commentary on what people are willing to go through to fit in and to stand up for the people whom they love.

These messages, and the style of the film, are really universal and accessible. It is easy to fall into this film and get caught up in the quirky, somewhat unlikely, and very endearing situations the characters find themselves in. While I can't address the political issues that previous reviewers mentioned, I'm really surprised that (in one review at least) the actors were criticized on their performances. There were no Shakespearian moments or performance of a lifetime here, but all the actors were brilliantly expressive and kept up a live-on-stage vibe the whole way through. The dialog was witty and well delivered; there's a great interaction between the crowd that gathers around the supermarket and the police who are trying to coax out the hostage-taker.

So, just what is this film about (no spoilers): Jagoda works at a new American-style supermarket. She doesn't really like her job (we don't blame her). "Just then" a guy with a rifle busts into the supermarket and starts taking hostages. We don't know what's up with this guy, is he crazy? ex-special forces? suicidal? Or all of the above? The "tension" builds up as the police, and a large crowd, gather outside. The situation inside goes from depressing to manic and everything along the way. It's quite a ride towards the final, inevitable showdown, where every character has a hand in the outcome.

This film is a quirky story that encourages you to laugh at the ridiculous situations life throws at you.

A great mix of satire, slapstick, cheesy romance and sentimentality, this movie uses an unlikely scenario to deal with themes such as westernisation, alienation in modern living, and romantic love.

In all fairness, it doesn't really deal with any of them in any thorough way, but who cares? It's entertaining viewing. Its easy-going feel as a film is created by its low budget looking filming and sometimes acting, a feature that works as a plus, as the movie is not meant to be taken too seriously, though there are serious ideas in there. It's more a light hearted satire, for example, as the hostage situation gets underway, a small crowd gathers, soon growing into a large crowd with an uncanny similarity to a crowd of football (soccer) supporters. The makers use this crowd to represent the current popular opinion in Serbia, for example, when the police show up, they are boo-ed and insulted and called American backed puppets, the comedy element is added by the crowd chanting and clapping their insults as though at a game. Hard to explain, hilarious to watch.

So in that sense, the movie is as much theatre as it is cinema, with no real attempt to be taken totally seriously. Overall a well rounded if not silly script, I'd recommend this film mostly on its story telling forte.