Charleston & Vendetta

One Big Dose of a Great Plot, Music, Camera & Set Design, Few metaphorical Messages, One amateur Screenplay and lot of bad Acting! That is how one of the newest Serbian ''to-cinema-returning'' and ''pretended-to-mesmerize-long-ago-sleepy-public'' movies could be described in short. New wave of global Hollywoodization clearly affected new Serbian Cinematography, with this, more, or less effects-fabricated fantasy and drama work serving as a perfect example of already proved worldwide magic recipe. And what about promoted originality and authenticity (of the Serbian Cinematography, Mentality, Culture...) No, not in this one. So turbulent political and economy Transition of the Serbian Society came to the Serbian Cinema too.

However, some of the important elements, previously mentioned, especially - original Plot, Music, Set Design and Camera are very good news in new Serbian (and former great? Yugoslav) cinematography, somehow always ''full of talents'' and always with lack on visual and acoustic elements. And money, of course! Example of ''Carlston za Ognjenku'' and significant involvement of affirmed foreign film companies in its shooting and production certainly brings a lot of optimism for the future.

However #2, with no doubt, this is yet another one debut work, from one more ''Child of the Serbian Movie''. Yes, the young director is someone's ''already-in-the-bussines'' son. And yes, his baby-movie has been therefore pretty much supported ''at all costs'', if not even forced from some top levels. But this is not my biggest concern. There are so much time in the future for young Stojanovic to prove himself and his work.

The reason of my deeply worry is certainly our new generation of the so-called prosperous young actor-stars. Those who need and should inherit and continue decades of proved good acting in our cinematography... Those who became stars too early. Even before they became actors! I'm worried. Are you?

This movie is simply a masterpiece. Its surrealist approach is similar to but goes much farther than Kusturica's flying fishes and brides (which are, by all means, the most charming features of Arizona Dream or Underground). It is the kind of film that makes you dream about another - not necessarily better, but nevertheless fascinating - world. This is especially remarkable as other Balkan cinematographers, such as the Romanians, are growing increasingly famous due to the triumph at Cannes and elsewhere of their sinister, realist movies that push the Italian post-WWII neo-realism to a darker, unbearable degree. Watching those films will certainly make you dream too, but you'll have nightmares. Watching Tears for Sale (or Charleston & Vendetta, which is the translation of the original title) is a delighting experience in post-modern surrealism. For the time being, the problem is that the movie seems to be available mostly in Serbian. Still, after some effort I was able to find on Internet an excellent French language version. But I am sure that subtitled DVD versions will soon be available. One final caveat: if you are an admirer of Hollywood movies and prefer 'believable dialogues' (as one of my fellow-reviewers does) definitely DO NOT WATCH Tears for Sale. Go to a theater that screens Spiderman 9 and you'll be happy. Choose Stojanovic's film only if you really like high-end cinema.

"Charleston for Ognjenka" is an attractive, dynamic, feminine, adventure and comedy for intelligent audience, one of the movies from the select group without first neighbors, a work to remember.

There is a song that says: "One step changes whole world". That's the sort of precision punches, bruises, subtle words, or awesome music that hits the viewer with perfect timing at perfect places, as if to receive a cure and treatment for the formal description or even definition of what this movie is supposed to be.

Charleston is not a morbid movie despite all the epic graveyards and characters "made of magic" due to careful details impact and art really. The topic of the movie is an attempted cultural change and its critique. Strong in body language, movie is a transformation journey of maturity and sensuality. At times the frames are haunted by ghosts that liberate the dark humor into character acceptance and pro life propaganda.

Tending to occupy most of attention and physical experience in theater, we may add it to the heritage of artworks that penetrate directly into perceptual actuality.

Guide it through fluent, flying camera in surreal vision for best results. Cinematography beyond error earns the right to free expression, and a solid blow to emotions at times.

It's a pity the first review of the film on the IMDb website is so negative, by an illiterate reviewer I might add. I need to respond because this was the single most delightful film I saw at TIFF 2008. I don't understand why it hasn't had wider release. Comedy can be the best way to deal with a tragic history - it's why so often people tell funny stories at memorials. I realize that those personally touched by Serbian history may not find Tears for Sale so amusing, but the ability to find perspective through humour can be a first step in moving on to a better, more tolerant and peaceful future. In general, the quality of new Serbian films is amazing, and this one was only surpassed by the wonderful "Honeymoons" at TIFF 2009. If you can find them, see them both!

This movie is.... a tad strange... It's fast, unclear here and there. Some of it's scenes are done in a manner thought to be appealing to a foreign audience, the domestic one isn't all that great, and this is understandable. The acting is good, the dialogues are lively even when they become rough. The acting is, actually the strongest part of this movie, even the extras seem convincing and natural. The story has a nice current, flow, but can be fast at times. The main characters go through certain story progressions expediently, and some scenes are abruptly speedy. It has an interesting idea, a good cast, a life to it... but the look of it was a little too modern, trying a little to hard to reach a broader audience, remember that movie inside a movie in 'Simone' with Pacino, it felt a bit like that. It's definitely different from the other domestic productions. I don't even know what to think of it, it left me a bit fuzzy and confused, but i do recommend it, if for nothing else, then because of the strong, mostly female, cast.