"Welcome to Sarajevo" is a frustrating, uneven and occasionally harrowing movie about a group of reporters covering the siege of Sarajevo in 1992(This was made in 1997 when there was a much more favorable opinion of journalists in general.), using archival footage to further complete the setting.(Al D'Amato being the
voice of reason is definitely a sign of the apocalypse.) The movie is at its best when it concerns itself with the chaotic lives of the journalists, especially a British television trio, Henderson(Stephen Dillane), Gregg(James Nesbitt) and Jane(Kerry Fox), who work together to cover the war, but most importantly stay alive.(Just so their livers can give out at a future date...) They are guided around the city by their native driver, Risto(Goran Visnjic).(The movie does make an effort to show life in the city from the natives' perspective.) After an American, Flynn(Woody Harrelson), disregards his personal safety to pull a body out of the street, Henderson snaps, becoming obsessed with an orphanage on the front line. And this is where the movie starts to go off the rails.(At this point in his career, director Michael Winterbottom was presumably not experienced enough to avoid any mawkish sentimentality.) Not only are children no more important as victims than adults(Do I really have to quote Bill Hicks again?), but Henderson is so very wrong in his actions, acting selfishly, and accomplishing little in the long run.
May 9, 2008
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