Esmas Geheimnis - Grbavica

Rather than the formal aspect, I would attribute the main prize at the Berlinale to the subject matter, which is so strong that a lesser rating than 4* is out of the question. It's definitely better not to know anything about the plot beforehand, so that the impact of the final chilling twist, the explanation of why the protagonist behaved the way she did all along, is as great as possible. Esma's (the flawless Mirjana Karanovic) impressive and divinely rendered confession at the end of the film is bound to move anyone with a modicum of perception. (31.07.2006)

A pretty fine TV adaptation with an impressive ending, an effect that unfortunately decreases if you are ready for it beforehand, or if you manage to figure it out while watching. I did figure it out, and then I remembered having heard about it in connection with the film. For me, it’s slightly above par (and I’m more receptive to films from the Balkans than most of the public). (17.03.2011)

The key sentence for evaluating this film is the statement used by LIMA in their comment: " ...a topic that is so powerful that anything less than a four-star rating is not appropriate." Yes, try to write that you didn't like a film with such a serious topic as torture and genocide... Aren't you also undermining the moral message of this work? Before Grbavica, I had already seen four feature films about the war in Bosnia, and each of them is at least a class better in my opinion. The reason is the directorial helplessness - for long minutes, nothing happens on the screen, characters play with cigarette lighters or sing a song. If possible, the whole song, so that I can learn the lyrics. I understood the plot of the story and correctly predicted its culmination after 15 minutes, but let's say that my boundless genius is responsible for that, not the creative impotence of the crew... Overall impression 50%. (11.05.2007)

A harsh story of contemporary Sarajevo that offers skillfully written characters and an excellently developed atmosphere of a rough and poor household that stands out even more in the local reality. The running time corresponds to the overall slow and somewhat uneven pace, but the young and ambitious director deserves praise. She wrote the screenplay herself, which offers us a big and quite shocking surprise just before the end. The simple structure of the story with textbook built-up tension and emotions offers exactly what you’d expect from a small and independent film. The decent performances, and above all, the practically total absence of music, this the film an extraordinary intimate experience. Definitely not a film for big screens, comfortable seats, and a proper bucket of popcorn! (10.07.2006)