John Stewart9
Member
22 messages
joined Dec 2011
Mark Wood79, I’m gonna have to disagree with you there, because honestly, I thought the movie was pretty good. I mean, I only really caught the parts about the journalist and the ambassador, so I can't really weigh this one against the rest of Hadžić's entire body of work, but for me, it was a solid watch...
I don't really get why people are saying the characters feel flat, because to me, the motivations felt totally spot on. The whole idea is that her true nature isn't just handed to you right at the start, but rather you uncover it as the story unfolds... At first, all you see is this dysfunctional family where everyone is constantly clashing and there's zero respect in the house. We don't know anything about their history or the family background initially, but slowly the pieces of the puzzle start coming together and the drama just ramps up and up. It turns out that the ambassador—who starts off winning the audience over compared to his super unlikable kids (you've got the self-absorbed, unemployed "cool guy," the daughter who's clearly falling apart, and the doctor who's basically a total player)—was actually just a careerist who completely neglected his wife and children, and ultimately his neglect is what led his wife to her death. The son, the doctor, calls him out on it directly, but even the others imply it through their constant disrespect, especially the daughter with her suicidal tendencies, so it feels like that's really what happened... Especially since when the handyman asks about his wife, he just coldly says something like, "Yeah, she was a good friend and companion," and then the son mentions she died in London waiting for him while he was already busy finding a new mistress, so it's crystal clear that his late wife didn't mean a damn thing to him...
There's also this political layer to it, where you could argue that almost every element is meant to be ironic or even a jab at those old-school socialist slogans we used to hear. It’s pretty interesting how even the ambassador himself, who basically had everything handed to him by that system, doesn't push back against it at all. Between the stories from his social circle and the handyman, the point becomes clear: it's always the same old story... You've got the ruling class and their version of paradise, starting with all that hype about utopian ideals and ending with the harsh reality of theory versus practice...
The rock music (that "Ko-ko-da" bit was a new one for me, I've never heard it before 😁) in movies like this always acts as this symbol for youthful rebellion against the political and social norms set by the "adults" in charge, kind of like that classic jeans commercial vibe. You definitely see that playing out here too. The son goes out of his way to defy his father whenever he gets the chance. He uses loud, "modern," and abrasive music to try and shatter the fake sense of peace and silence inside that massive mansion and the family itself. The daughter handles it through this sort of "passive resistance." But in the end, it’s the oldest son who really plays the decisive role in stripping away the ambassador's past...
Even after you realize what kind of man the ambassador used to be, you still find yourself feeling a little bit of sympathy for him. He doesn't deny any of the accusations; he mostly just stays quiet and reflects, which gives you the impression that he actually does regret some things... But at the end of the day, he's still alone. He even admits that he was less afraid of getting hit by a bomb during a war than he is of the old age that's waiting for him...
The soundtrack fits perfectly, and the acting is top-tier...
