Movies
Welcome to Sarajevo
Sanctimonious sojourn in what is authoritatively called "the fourteenth worst place on Earth." (The worst? "L.A., of course.") The narrative framework is the well-worn one of the development of conscience in the objective journalist, determined in this instance to lead an exodus of orphans out of the war-torn Balkans. This creaky skeleton is tricked out with a lot of jiggly photography and disjunctive editing for newsreel authenticity, together with a lot of certifiable atrocity footage (strong stomachs only), but slow-motion may be called upon, too, for emphatic punctuation. Director Michael Winterbottom's notion of irony is the use of Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy" on the soundtrack; his notion of anguished sincerity is the use of the Albinoni Adagio, same as in the Australian Gallipoli for similar purposes. With Stephen Dillane, Woody Harrelson, Kerry Fox, Marisa Tomei. 1997.
— Duncan Shepherd
Reader Rating:
- MPAA Rating: R
