Welcome to Sarajevo

Starring:Stephen Dillane, Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Emira Nusevic, Kerry Fox, Goran Visnjic, James Nesbitt, Emily Lloyd, Igor Dzambazov, Gordana Gadzic, Juliet Aubrey, Drazen Sivak, Vesna Orel, Davor Janjic, Vladimir Jokanovic, Izudina Brutus, Labina Mitevska, Sanja Buric, Haris Secic, Kerry Shale
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Never Forget The Balkans
Great movie, but why no extras?
The biggest victims of genocide are the children
Surprisingly Powerful Look At A War That Went Unnoticed....
Lack of balance leads to lack of credibility.

Welcome to Sarajevo
Starring: Stephen Dillane , Woody Harrelson , Marisa Tomei , Emira Nusevic , and Kerry Fox
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000DZ3GD
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Description

Woody Harrelson (PLAY IT TO THE BONE), Academy Award(R)-winner Marisa Tomei (Best Supporting Actress, 1992, MY COUSIN VINNY), and Stephen Dillane (THE HOURS) team up and deliver powerhouse performances in this true story of courage and daring! Living on the edge amid the constant threat of attack, an offbeat band of TV journalists, lead by hotshot Jimmy Flynn (Harrelson), report from a devastated war-torn country. The action intensifies when one of the journalists crosses the line and risks his life in a bold attempt to smuggle an orphaned girl to safety. Filling the screen with a jarring mix of passion and danger, WELCOME TO SARAJEVO is a gritty, behind-the-scenes look at covering a war -- head-on and on the run. Don't miss it!

Customer Reviews:

Never Forget The Balkans.......2007-04-08

"Welcome To Sarajevo" is a powerful drama directed by Michael Winterbottom, starring Stephen Dillane, Woody Harrelson, Goran Visnjic, Emira Nusevic and Marisa Tomei. Harrelson and Dillane are journalists (U.S. and British, respectively), who were covering the war in Bosnia, specifically in its capital city Sarajevo (with sprinkling of events in other parts of the country).

Though the movie does not cover the origins of the conflict, and the differences between Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs, it does provide the insight into the events as experienced by the foreign journalists. Sprinkled with actual documentary footage, the film is engrossing and educational.

Henderson (Dillane) is trying to stay detached from the war, and to restrict his involvement to objective reporting. This becomes increasingly difficult when he sees a local orphanage being filled with children who witnessed tragedies that would put many brave adults on Prozac and Xanax. At the same time, Winterbottom interjects his own opinion of the war by inserting actual clips of world leaders expressing displeasure at the conflict, some even denying that there are any atrocities actually going on.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone who wants to become acquainted with what the people in the middle of Europe had to live with in the late 20th century, while their neighbors turned a blind eye. I also recommend reading a short history of Bosnia prior to viewing this film, simply for a better understanding of events, and of who is doing what to whom and why. Let's hope this never happens again.

Great movie, but why no extras?.......2007-02-02

*Possible Spoilers*
I will review the movie first, then the DVD. I first watched "Welcome to Sarajevo" the week after Easter in 2003. Even though it got a relatively lukewarm reception by critics and moviegoers, I found it powerful. The basic plot of the film is about a British journalist, Michael Henderson (played by Stephen Dillane), who sees a 9 year-old girl named Emira in an orphanage that is bombed. Henderson forms a bond with young Emira, and decides that he must get her out of the country. Now at the time, the UN policy was that no children were to be evacuated from Bosnia, unless they had living relatives in another country. Aware of this policy, Henderson risks jeopardizing his career, getting into legal trouble, and possibly losing his life to find a way to adopt Emira. He eventually succeeds, and Emira happily lives in Henderson's posh London home.

"Welcome to Sarajevo" is a difficult film to watch at times. For example, we see scenes of civilians massacred interspersed with archival news footage of Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic confidently saying that his forces act "in accordance with the Geneva Convention." There's one scene that many viewers are bound to find traumatic: several children, including Emira, are on a bus bound for an airport to take them out of the country and to safety. Unfortunately, they are stopped by members of the Chetniks, a Bosnian Serb paramilitary group. One of them boards the bus looks at the list of passengers, and forcefully removes several of the children. Emira would have been among them, but Henderson covers her and cries, "No! She's English!" Unfortunately, a baby that Emira had been caring for, Roadrunner, is removed. Nina (Marisa Tomei), an idealistic humanitarian who arranged for the childrens' departure, tries desparately, but in vain, to stop the Chetniks from taking the children.

Ultimately, "Welcome to Sarajevo" succeeds in giving a sense of what daily life was like in Sarajevo during the war. One word describes it: hopeless. The citizens hoped that someone could protect them sniping and shelling, that someone would get them out of there, but these hopes were unfulfilled. Since Americans were bombarded with news of the Bosnian war on a daily basisy, in a relatively sanitized form, they eventually grew apathetic to the whole thing. Myself included. If nothing else, I think "Welcome to Sarajevo" succeeds in portraying the Bosnian war as a true tragedy. For many, it was half a world away, but for those who were there, it was real, and it affected them day in and day out for 4 years.

Now for the DVD review. Why are there no extras on the DVD? If "Black Hawk Down" can get a 3-disc deluxe edition treatment, why can't "Welcome to Sarajevo" get something similar? There's plenty of stuff out there that could be put onto a special edition. For example, on YouTube I found interviews with the cast at the time of filming. In addition, I believe there was a PBS Frontline special about snipers in Sarajevo. If the Black Hawk Down DVD could include a PBS Frontline special among its special features, there's no reason it couldn't be done with this movie. In addition, there's plenty of archival news footage about the Bosnian war that could be put in to the special features. Of course, we could have commentary from the director, cast, and maybe the author of the book "Natasha's Story." Since the 10th anniversary of the movie's release is coming in November, I really think that they should at least consider these ideas.

The biggest victims of genocide are the children.......2006-11-08

This is one of my favorite movies and I have watched it many times. In the face of unrelenting hatred, there are people who make a difference in the lives of others and this movie tells the story of these people. After seeing the movie, I researched the story of Emira (real name Natasha) and the British journalist who, with the combined efforts of others, rescued her. Even though he caught a lot of negativity for his actions, he still believed in doing the right thing when he could. The actual war footage in this movie shows just what the Bosnian people lived through. I have followed this war for many years (among other acts of genocide in other countries) and it never ceases to amaze me what some people do to other people they perceive to be diferent. This movie shows that there are still good people out there that are willing to risk it all if only to save one life. The soundtrack is equally as great.

Surprisingly Powerful Look At A War That Went Unnoticed...........2006-07-24

This movie makes me want to be a journalist. The movie follows the lives of foreign correspondants who become intwined with the Bosnian war occuring in Sarajevo- a war they don't understand. While dealing with the silent tragedies erupting around them . The journalists covering the story of the century feel- frustrated, angry and depressed at times at the world's lack of care to tragedy unfolding in the country. A war in which children playing outside an apartment were considered fair game and a war that civilians were constantly targeted on both sides. A war that to this day is still misunderstood by the world and a genocide of a people that went on unnoticed.

To this day people in the United States debate wether or not saving Bosnia was worth committing troops and peacekeeping troops after seeing this movie you'll be horrorified that the US and the rest of the civilized world did not do more. I'm a little biased in my feelings of the conflict my preacher was in Bosnia for a year and I know an immigrant who escaped from the terror that unfolded there. The war was a civil war fought among the states of Yugoslavia-at the fall of communism. States in Yugoslavia began declaring independance based on their ethnic nationality- Serb, Croat, and Muslim... Creating a great amount of ethnic tension that OFFICIALY erupted in 92. The Serbs began trying to reclaim land- as they claimed their land they forced evacuated Muslims and Croats from their home, as well as executed many males and sent others to forced labor camps. The state of Bosnia the stronghold of Yugoslavia's Muslim population became the center of Serb attack and it's capital Sarajevo became a city under siege.

What makes the movie powerful is many of the images/comments used in the movie is from ACTUAL footage-making haunting moments when you realize your looking at ACTUAL footage taken from a reporter who was there.

Based on the true story- the movie centers around a British reporter who ends up adopting a Bosian Muslim child- hoping to save her from the conflict and a love between them that blurs his work from his love for his daughter. For he is NOW speaking for his daughter.

The movie is a little one-sided in the fact it is clearly ANTI-SERB and the truth is no ethnic group was truly innocent in this conflict.

Welcome To Sarajevo shows the blurs between empathy, human nature, and being a witness to untolerable events. All in all "Welcome To Sarajevo" is definately a wonderful film to watch and is one with surprising emotional impact.

Lack of balance leads to lack of credibility........2005-10-27

In short, the film does a fairly good job of getting the message across, as it should do, in making people aware of the evils of war and the fact that the international community is often slow to act. At the same time, however, it does not provide a balanced examination of the situation on the ground, which only weakens the very effect it is trying to create.
What the film ends up doing is the one thing it must avoid at all cost in order to be effective: NOT to choose sides. The Catholic Croats and the Muslims are the "victims," while the Orthodox Serbs are wholly to blame... That is neither witty nor wise when trying to carry out a "noble cause." There is a term used in such situations and it's called... propaganda!
A more balanced and objective approach (i.e. there are no good guys and bad guys in such conflicts) with less bias and closed mindedness would have made the film more effective and therefore, more successful. The ultimate goal is good, but the method used is not necessarily the correct one.
Another setback is in relation to the acting (or lack of it); that is to say that the cast are badly in need of acting lessons (with the exception of Woody Harrelson)! The acting-oh my- the acting is beyond words... School plays (and pre-school for that matter) have better actors! It is truly sad...
Yet another weakness is in relation to the very poor dialogues and the weak plot/storyline for which the writers and director are to blame.
In conclusion, the potential for a good movie was there if only the writers/director had the ability to... write and direct! A shame really...

Charlie Rose with George Mitchell & Marjorie Mowlam; Stephen Dillane (November 24, 1997)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with George Mitchell & Marjorie Mowlam; Stephen Dillane (November 24, 1997)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Charlie kicks off a week-long trip to England by speaking to Chairman of the Northern Ireland Peace Talks George Mitchell. He also speaks with Secretary of State of Northern Ireland Marjorie Mowlam. They discuss the trajectory of the peace process in Northern Ireland as well as Britain's role in the negotiations. Plus, Shakespearean actor Stephen Dillane talks about his new film, Welcome to Sarajevo.

Average customer rating:

Welcome to Sarajevo [Region 2]
Starring: Stephen Dillane , Woody Harrelson , Marisa Tomei , Emira Nusevic , and Kerry Fox
Director: Michael Winterbottom
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Average customer rating:

Lack of balance leads to lack of credibility.
life during a war in bosnia
I served in Bosnia with SFOR
shocking and unforgettable
UNFORGIVING

Welcome to Sarajevo [Region 2]
Starring: Stephen Dillane , Woody Harrelson , Marisa Tomei , Emira Nusevic , and Kerry Fox
Director: Michael Winterbottom
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

No Man's Land
Pretty Village, Pretty Flame
Shot Through the Heart
Tito and Me
Welcome to Sarajevo

ASIN: B00004XQSZ

Amazon.com

Nothing that British filmmaker Michael Winterbottom made before Welcome to Sarajevo (including Butterfly Kiss and Jude) suggested the clarifying rage of this 1997 film, which is based on the experiences of British journalist Michael Nicholson while on assignment in Bosnia. Made emotionally numb by the savagery and insanity of Serbian aggression on Sarajevo and surrounding towns and countryside, reporter Michael Henderson (Stephen Dillane in a remarkable performance) awakens to the plight of one orphanage and particularly to that of a girl whom he promises to rescue. Henderson's efforts lead to a harrowing bus journey to (temporary) protection for some of the kids (others, quite shockingly, are carried off en route by Serb marauders), and then a second, even more dangerous good deed to finish what he started. The film's dimensions go well beyond that story line, however, as Winterbottom re-creates the gallows-humor culture of international correspondents in a blighted region, as well as the nightmare of the Sarajevo siege. Most savage of all, however, is the director's use of news clips in a pointed attack on the West's refusal to deal with the slaughter and outrages in Bosnia at their peak. The supporting cast might look like a bunch of famous names (Kerry Fox, Marisa Tomei) used decorously to attract attention to the film, but in fact everyone is very good, especially Woody Harrelson as an American journalist whose entrance in the story is one of the most memorable in recent history. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Lack of balance leads to lack of credibility........2005-02-07

life during a war in bosnia.......2004-01-27

im born in bosnia and i been in bosnia during a war and all that tragedy and if u really want to know what was like like during a war in bosnia this is a movie to watch this is small part of what was going on in bosnia in the war and its truth and this movie will make you cry. i highly recommend this movie. for me best part of the movie is when reporter risk his life for a girl that he promised to get her out of war.

I served in Bosnia with SFOR.......2003-03-17

I served in the US Army with SFOR. I think this is an excellent and well done film. It is perhaps the most accurate film that I have seen concerning the war in Bosnia. It not only accurately reflects and shows the genocide that was carried out by Slobodan Milosevic, Ratko Mladic and Rodavan Kradzic but it also gives hints but does not quite come out to expose the whole truth. As a soldier who served in Bosnia I will tell you the whole truth that this film seeks to poke at. It shows how the United States acted as accomplices to Slobodan Milosevic's genocide that was carried out against the Bosnian muslim population. It plainly shows American officials lying to the American people. I would also like to add the Former President Clinton has seen this movie himself with actor Woody Harrelson and Mr. Clinton knows full well that he lied to the American people about what was really going on in Bosnia. To be honest with you.... it is a truth that must be told. I am aching to tell it to everybody I can find. I was shocked to see the dead bodies when I was in Bosnia and further shocked to discover the lies the US government told the American people. I think it is very important for every american to watch this film. In order to fully understand the film I highly recommend Peter Maass's book "Love They Neighbor." He reported on the war in Bosnia.

shocking and unforgettable.......2001-04-13

admittedly i rented this out because of Goran Visnjic being in it..but that wasnt the main reason.As the opening scene unfolded i could see that this wasnt a film for the faint hearted, that on the way to a wedding the mother of the bride is shot dead.With the film progressing and the character of Risto(Visnjic)becoming more important I felt myself being drawn into what was happening, and could not help but be moved by the scenes of the orphanage.To see how these children had been mixed up in a war that led them to losing their parents had me in tears.Whilst not an entertaining film, I thought that it was well worth watching as it gave an insight(no matter how small)into what people had to go through.The acting was great and only enhanced what was a brilliant film..but one that left me shocked and upset.

UNFORGIVING.......2001-03-26

Woody Harrelson plays a character, a witty and pointed American journalist, that makes it clear why the rest of the world feels a little jaded about Americans. He is perfect in his role. Stephen Dillane is a British journalist who, along with Harrelson and others, is in Sarajevo covering the war in Bosnia. It is interesting to see how headlines are made, how stories compete with one another for the headline. What is the most horrible or gripping thing to happen and who gets the scoop? It is almost disheartening really... when complete trash or gossip grabs the headlines over atrocities committed in some place in the world that the British, American, or Western European audiences want to ignore or forget. Dillane chases stories, but eventually he becomes stuck on one story only-an orphanage in Bosnia and the children who are suffering there. Eventually he adopts one of the girls from the orphanage and takes her back to England with her. Naturally there are complications and a fascinating story that makes up all the details that lead to the adoption. An unforgiving and gritty depiction (a true story) which will be unforgettable.

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