Underground

“Once upon a time there was a country..”

I recently saw Emir Kusturica’s 1995 black comedy and Palme d’Or winner Underground. The story is situated in Belgrade during WWII, and centers around the two friends Marko and Blacky who are working against the german army. Due to Blacky being wanted, they organize for him and another group of people to hide underground until the war is over. Only problem is Marko is in love with the same woman as Blacky, so he doesn’t inform him when the war is over and enjoys takes the honor of being a national hero for himself, while Blacky is believed to be dead.

I’ve never before seen so many surreal and funny scenes in a movie that learned me so much at the same time. To me, Blacky and Marko represented to parts of the Yugoslavian people, the people who did the work, and the people who took credit. And a beautiful metaphor it was!

“A war is no war until the brother kills his brother”