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Remake (2003 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Remake' is a 2003 Bosnian war film directed by Dino Mustafi, produced by Enes Cviko and Martine de Clermont-Tonnerre. The film is a Turkish-French co-production.
The film stars Ermin Bravo, Aleksandar Seksan, Ermin Sijamija, Dejan Aimovi, Lucija erbedija, Emir Hadihafizbegovi, Miraj Grbi, Franois Berland, velyne Bouix, and was written by Zlatko Topi (based on incidents which occurred in his life).
'Remake' tells the parallel coming-of-age stories of a father living in Sarajevo during World War II and his son living through the Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War.
The film premiered at the 32nd International Film Festival Rotterdam on January 23, 2003. The film's US premiere was at the 2004 Wine Country Film Festival (San Francisco), where it won three awards: Best First Feature, Best Actor (Ermin Bravo) and Award for Peace and Cultural Understanding. It won a Special Mention Award at the 53rd Berlin International Film Festival.
Plot and theme
In the early 1990s, Tarik is a young Sarajevan just starting out as a writer. Before the onset of war in the former Yugoslavia, he sends a screenplay to a literary competition in France.
In a parallel plot, we see the dramatization of his script: a true story of his father Ahmed Karaga, who is unprepared for the outbreak of World War II and ends up in a concentration camp, but manages to survive. In the present plot, Ahmed's drama is almost identically replayed in the fate of Tarik. Only the era and the conditions of suffering have changed.
In Sarajevo, Tarik is captured by the Serbian Army and is subjected to the cruel conditions of a labour camp, which differs little from a concentration camp. After an unsuccessful attempt to escape, a famous French film producer helps exchange Tarik for another prisoner and ensures transportation to Paris.
There, where few know of the great tragedy that has struck Bosnia, he meets one of his tormentors.
The film explores the theme of revenge versus forgiveness, as well as the idea that history repeats itself and that those who do not learn from it are doomed to repeat it.
'Remake' is also a coming-of-age drama, with scenes in which Ahmed and Tarik go out with their friends, have fun, fall in love.
Cast and characters
*Ermin Bravo as Tarik Karaga
*Aleksandar Seksan as Miro Jovanovi, Tarik's best friend
*Miralem Zupevi as Ahmed Karaga, Tarik's father
*Ermin Sijamija portrays the younger version of Ahmed
*Dejan Aimovi as Duke Mio, one of the commanders of the local Serbian forces and Tarik's neighbor
*Lucija erbedija as Eva Bebek, Ahmed girlfriend from his youth
*Slaven Knezovi as Marko Kalaba, Ahmed's friend
*Helena Mini as Alma Dizdarevi, Tarik's girlfriend
*Jasna Dikli as Desa Jovanovi, Miro's mother
*Zijah Sokolovi as Mirsad Alihodi "Hoda", a Bosnian refugee in France, war profiteer
*Franois Berland as Francois-Charles Leconte, producer
*velyne Bouix as Katrin Leconte, producer's wife
*Haris Begovi as Adis Dizdarevi, Alma's younger brother
*Izudin Bajrovi as Jovo, Serbian soldier
*Emir Hadihafizbegovi as eljko, Serbian guard
*Admir Glamoak as an interrogator, investigator, Ustasha
*Mario Drma as Remzo, a singer from the camp
*Miraj Grbi as Mitar, Serbian guard
*Mirsad Tuka as Vaso, Serbian soldier
*Mirza Tanovi as French UN officer
*Rade olovi as Zoka, Serbian guard
*Jasmin Meki as Miki, Serbian soldier
*Mirvad Kuri as Salko, captive
*Tahir Niki as Vlado, captive
*Nakib Abdagi as Zijo Bajri, captive
*Edhem Husi as Meho Mizi, captive
*Boo Bunjevac as Avdo Ligata, captive
*Vlado Keroevi as major
*Alen Muratovi as Demo, illegal
*Tatjana oji as announcer
*Vlado Jokanovi as clergyman
*Bojan Trii as gutterman
*Aldin Zuli as Don Dragia de la Kuvelja
*Boris Balta as Ustasha
Production
'Remake' is the first feature film directed by Dino Mustafi and the first written by Zlatko Topi. Mustafi said in an interview: "We need a cathartic films that talk about our recent past. They are just as important as a testimony to the evil and stupidity of war does not happen again." Topi said: "The script is devoid of ideological and daily political tinge. This movie wants to be a movie of love, not hate."
The film'sscript was published in 2002.
Filming
Filming took place in Paris, Sarajevo and other locations. Principal photography began in 2001.Release
The film was released worldwide on January 23, 2003, by Forum and Terra Entertainment Inc. (US). It was released to cinemas throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina on February 22, 2003.
Music
Musician Adi Lukovac and singer Emina Zeaj collaborated on the soundtrack for the film ('Remake - soundtrack').
Accolades
Reception
Box office
'Remake' was a box office hit. It is the most watched film in its native country ever.Critical response
Ronald Holloway of 'Kino-German Film & International Reports' wrote that "'Remake' should not be missed". Also, he called it "a major film event of 2003". Deborah Young, in 'Variety', remarked that the film "is long on narrative but short on original insight into Balkan history". Stephen Dalton, from 'The Hollywood Reporter', selected 'Remake' in list "Best 100 Movies Ever Made" (87th place).The film's world premiere was at the 32nd International Film Festival Rotterdam, where a critic said that 'Remake' is a "very brave film, describing the situation as it was" and emphasized that "the restrained acting, the flowing transitions between the flashbacks and the clever cutting make 'Remake' into a penetrating film experience". It was the most watched film of the festival and received a 20 minute standing ovation.
Some critics specifically praised the cult scene in which actor Mario Drma sings a traditional folk song 'Il' je vedro, il' oblano'. On 'Filmski.net', the film has a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars. 'MukMag' rated 'Remake' as one of the best films of ex-YU cinema.
International festival circuit
The film was screened at over 100 international film festivals around the world, including the Festival du Film de Paris, New York Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Locarno Festival, Warsaw International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Berlin International Film Festival, Rome Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Gothenburg Film Festival, FEST, Salerno International Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Valencia International Film Festival Cinema Jove, Toronto International Film Festival, Sofia International Film Festival, Transilvania International Film Festival, So Paulo International Film Festival, Houston Cinema Arts Festival (Texas), Monaco International Film Festival, International Istanbul Film Festival, Montreal World Film Festival, Filmfest Mnchen, Prague International Film Festival - Febiofest, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Wine Country Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival (Ohio), Sarajevo Film Festival, and many other.It was screened at festivals in the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada, Bulgaria, Romania, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Turkey, Spain, Monaco, Germany, the Czech Republic and the United States. It was also premiered on TV in the United States and Hungary.
See also
*List of Bosnia and Herzegovina films
*List of cult films
*List of films set in Paris
References
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