Profesionalac

Dusan Kovacevic is author of the best screenplays in Serbian cinematography. He wrote one of the most hilarious movies ever- The Marathon Family (Maratonci trce pocasni krug, 1982) and much more. When he decided to write and direct "The Professional", placed in Serbia after the 1999's October revolution, i was a bit skeptic, thinking of this movie as of another war/love stories from Serbia's underground, violent and hard to watch (that's the best description of 80% newer Serbian movies). God, i was wrong.

Teja is the president of one of the state's companies- a newspaper. He is typical represent of the new democratic Serbia's government: lucid, educated, intelligent. He is going through a hard period in life, and the situation in his company is going worse and worse. The first 15 minutes are another successful Kovacevic's attempt to make fun of audience. Setting the start of the movie in Teja's office, focusing on daily politics, makes you think that all this movie is going to be another of the domestic trash movies you could see in past years (with a few honorable exceptions). When a strange old man in coat steps into the office, everything turns upside-down. Not taking off his coat or hat, just putting two large suitcases on the floor, Luka starts talking to Teja who soon realises that in front of him stands extremely educated man who claims to be a policeman.

One thing about Luka starts to be strange to Teja- the man he sees the first time in his life seems to know too much about him. When he asks Luka about the content of the books, old man tells him that every page of the books is about Teja. Other suitcase is full of his lost things. Luka has been following Teja for decades, writing down his every single move. Luka seems to know more about Teja's life than Teja himself. They together remember the most interesting details of their lives collecting the pieces of this movie's puzzle.

Thinking of a movie most similar to The Professional, i stopped at Burton's "Big Fish". Both movies are based on collection of flashback stories. Flashbacks in Kovacevic's movie are less fictional, but not less interesting, making you laugh at start, and cry at the end of the movie. It is impressive how a good scenario can make a low-budget movie so interesting. Professional will surely wake up emotional side of you and make you think of it a long after it is finished. A special credit goes to a beautiful soundtrack by Momcilo Bajagic. This is one of the foreign movies that should easily have blockbuster Hollywood remakes.

He who didn't cry sever times during the movie and after it, was not in Serbia in the 90's. Wonderful movie, it brings back the memories, all those futile battles that were suppose to mean something for a better future but didn't. Wonderful performances by both Todorovic and Lecic. If Lecic was an USA actor I am sure he would be world wide famous. One his other masterpiece I remember is "Three Tickets to Hollywood", but in my opinion he didn't shoot enough of the good movies. Serbian cinematography is too small for such great actors. But even if you are a foreigner, you will like the movie. Plot and events that where happening in the Serbia during the movie are well explained so you will be able to figure everything out. I recommend it to anyone. If I have to put a genre on it, I would say that this is a brilliant dark historical drama with a few hilarious jokes that make the movie easier to watch.

I simply enjoyed this movie! There was never a dull moment. The plot was very fresh, interesting, and original. There was on-going laughter throughout the movie, I loved it! I could watch it over and over again.

Of course, my idea for the title of this short comment has nothing to do with the Matrix Reloaded :) For our readers and viewers outside Serbia, there is a pre-history of this movie: it is being based on the theater play "The Professional" by the same author, Mr. Kovacevic. The main role of Luka Laban has been incredulously played by the famous Serbian actor Danilo Bata Stojkovic (now deceased) and it was mostly known for his wonderful performance. But Mr. Kovacevic went a step further when doing this movie: he decided to place it in the early 2000s, after the Serbian October Revolution, what gave him an excellent opportunity to FINISH the story and make it universal - even very much actual and authentic about the present Serbia. The saying of the story is that regimes may change, but the Secret Service ("Sluzba") remains the same. Once "Sluzba" - always "Sluzba". And it perfectly fits to the post-October Serbia. The movie is highly political, even if not intended to be - it's production coincides with the assassination of the Serbian Prime Minister, the assassination organized by "Sluzba". And just a sentence about the title role: I'm much in favor of Bora Todorovic's version of The Professional!

The film is a disappointment, especially considering it's based on a far superior theater play. While the play focuses on the eponymous 'professional', and makes us care about that character, while exploring it in depth, the film makes the relationship between the professional and his 'target' its focus, which doesn't work at all. The screenplay for the film comes across as amateurish and confused. It becomes a series of weird encounters and gags, but has no substance. Also, it is tonally confusing and outright nonsensical. It provides no emotional payoff, and on top of that, the casting is not particularly good. If you want to see this, watch the theater play.