Dara of Jasenovac: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
writes above
Tags: Undo Reverted
m Reverted edits by 93.138.37.109 (talk) to last version by Griboski
Line 77: Line 77:


== Critical reception ==
== Critical reception ==
Jay Weissberg of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' gave the film a negative review. He says the film work as an "undisguised piece of [[Serbian nationalism | Serbian nationalist]] propaganda". While Weissberg does not dispute the brutality of the [[Ustaše|Ustasha]] regime and cruelty in Jasenovac, he questions the producers' motives and writes that the film contains "undisguised [[Anti-Croat sentiment|anti-Croatian]] and [[Anti-Catholicism|anti-Catholic]] elements" which are "designed as incendiary fodder" for current conflicts, and that it lacks any serious examination of the dangers of [[nationalism]], [[racism]] and [[genocide]] which are instead replaced with "cheap sensation and sentiment".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weissberg |first=Jay |date=2021-01-25 |title=‘Dara of Jasenovac’ Review: A Holocaust Movie With Questionable Intentions |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/dara-of-jasenovac-film-review-dara-iz-jasenovca-1234890745/|url-status=live |website=Variety}}</ref> Film director Antonijević responded to Weissberg's critique, dubbing it as a political "pamphlet" rather than a movie review as it contained "only two or three sentences about the film itself".<ref>{{Cite web|title=OVAJ FILM SMO KRVLjU PLATILI: Predrag Antonijević o optužbama kritičara "Varajetija" da je "Dara" nacionalistički pamflet|url=https://www.novosti.rs/kultura/vesti/959020/ovaj-film-smo-krvlju-platili-predrag-antonijevic-optuzbama-kriticara-varajetija-dara-nacionalisticki-pamflet|access-date=2021-01-29|website=NOVOSTI|language=sr}}</ref> [[Ministry of Culture and Information (Serbia)|Serbian Minister of Culture and Information]] [[Maja Gojković]] alluded that the negative reviews were lobbied by Croatia.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-02-04|title=TEŠKE OPTUŽBE MAJE GOJKOVIĆ: Hrvatska naručila negativne kritike protiv filma 'Dara iz Jasenovca'?!|url=https://www.slobodna-bosna.ba/vijest/187068/teske_optuzbe_maje_gojkovic_hrvatska_naruchila_negativne_kritike_protiv_filma_dara_iz_jasenovca.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Slobodna Bosna|language=bs-BA}}</ref> Representatives of the film's distributor, MegaCom Film, stated that Weissberg had never previously reviewed any Serbian film, and that his review amounted to a relativization and trivialization of genocide.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NOVE KRITIKE AMERIČKIH MEDIJA O FILMU “DARA IZ JASENOVCA“ {{!}} MCF|url=http://mcf.rs/novosti/nove-kritike-ameri%C4%8Dkih-medija-o-filmu-dara-iz-jasenovca|access-date=2021-02-04|website=mcf.rs}}</ref>
Jay Weissberg of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' gave the film a negative review. While Weissberg does not dispute the brutality of the [[Ustaše|Ustasha]] regime and cruelty in Jasenovac, he questions the producers' motives and writes that the film contains "undisguised [[Anti-Croat sentiment|anti-Croatian]] and [[Anti-Catholicism|anti-Catholic]] elements" which are "designed as incendiary fodder" for current conflicts, and that it lacks any serious examination of the dangers of [[nationalism]], [[racism]] and [[genocide]] which are instead replaced with "cheap sensation and sentiment".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weissberg |first=Jay |date=2021-01-25 |title=‘Dara of Jasenovac’ Review: A Holocaust Movie With Questionable Intentions |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/dara-of-jasenovac-film-review-dara-iz-jasenovca-1234890745/|url-status=live |website=Variety}}</ref> Film director Antonijević responded to Weissberg's critique, dubbing it as a political "pamphlet" rather than a movie review as it contained "only two or three sentences about the film itself".<ref>{{Cite web|title=OVAJ FILM SMO KRVLjU PLATILI: Predrag Antonijević o optužbama kritičara "Varajetija" da je "Dara" nacionalistički pamflet|url=https://www.novosti.rs/kultura/vesti/959020/ovaj-film-smo-krvlju-platili-predrag-antonijevic-optuzbama-kriticara-varajetija-dara-nacionalisticki-pamflet|access-date=2021-01-29|website=NOVOSTI|language=sr}}</ref> [[Ministry of Culture and Information (Serbia)|Serbian Minister of Culture and Information]] [[Maja Gojković]] alluded that the negative reviews were lobbied by Croatia.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-02-04|title=TEŠKE OPTUŽBE MAJE GOJKOVIĆ: Hrvatska naručila negativne kritike protiv filma 'Dara iz Jasenovca'?!|url=https://www.slobodna-bosna.ba/vijest/187068/teske_optuzbe_maje_gojkovic_hrvatska_naruchila_negativne_kritike_protiv_filma_dara_iz_jasenovca.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Slobodna Bosna|language=bs-BA}}</ref> Representatives of the film's distributor, MegaCom Film, stated that Weissberg had never previously reviewed any Serbian film, and that his review amounted to a relativization and trivialization of genocide.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NOVE KRITIKE AMERIČKIH MEDIJA O FILMU “DARA IZ JASENOVCA“ {{!}} MCF|url=http://mcf.rs/novosti/nove-kritike-ameri%C4%8Dkih-medija-o-filmu-dara-iz-jasenovca|access-date=2021-02-04|website=mcf.rs}}</ref>


Writing for ''[[Film Threat]]'', Ray Lobo reviewed the film positively, noting that it is "a unique World War II story worth watching" and serves as a "World War II education" as well as an "education in the [[Yugoslav Wars|Balkan conflicts of the last decade of the twentieth century]]". Lobo praises the film's production quality and lighting as well as the cast for effectively conveying "both the degradation of camp life and the will to live".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lobo |first1=Ray |title=Dara of Jasenovac |url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/dara-of-jasenovac/ |website=filmthreat.com |date=27 January 2021}}</ref>
Writing for ''[[Film Threat]]'', Ray Lobo reviewed the film positively, noting that it is "a unique World War II story worth watching" and serves as a "World War II education" as well as an "education in the [[Yugoslav Wars|Balkan conflicts of the last decade of the twentieth century]]". Lobo praises the film's production quality and lighting as well as the cast for effectively conveying "both the degradation of camp life and the will to live".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lobo |first1=Ray |title=Dara of Jasenovac |url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/dara-of-jasenovac/ |website=filmthreat.com |date=27 January 2021}}</ref>

Revision as of 21:22, 5 February 2021

Dara of Jasenovac
Official movie poster
Directed byPredrag Antonijević
Written byNataša Drakulić
Produced byPredrag Antonijević
Maksa Ćatović
Petar Vukašinović
StarringBiljana Čekić
Vuk Kostić
Marko Janketić
CinematographyMiloš Kodemo
Edited byFilip Dedić
Music byRoman Goršek
Aleksandra Kovač
Production
companies
Dandelion Production Inc
Film Danas
Komuna
Cineplanet
Distributed byMegaCom Film[1]
101 Studios (US)[2]
Release date
  • 22 October 2020 (2020-10-22)
Running time
130 minutes
CountrySerbia
LanguageSerbian
Budget3,6 million $

Dara of Jasenovac (Serbian: Дара из Јасеновца, romanized: Dara iz Jasenovca) is a 2020 Serbian historical drama film directed by Predrag Antonijević. Based on the testimonies of survivors,[3] it deals with war crimes and atrocities that took place at the World War II Jasenovac concentration camp,[4] which was a part of the Holocaust and the wider genocide of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia.

The movie was set to premiere in early 2020,[5] commemorating 75 years since the escape of the remaining prisoners from the camp. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the premiere was postponed to 22 October 2020.[6][7] The premiere was in late 2020 postponed again to a mid-2021 release due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was selected as the Serbian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.[8] Dara of Jasenovac has been submitted for consideration for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama, while young actress Biljana Čekić was submitted for consideration for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.[9]

Plot

After the Axis-led Kozara Offensive the majority of the local Serb population ends up in Croatian Ustasha concentration camps.

With no information about the whereabouts of her father, twelve-year-old Dara, her mother and two brothers are transported to the Jasenovac concentration camp by train.

Dara is separated from her family and sent to a special camp for children along with her two-year-old brother Budo. Her mother and older brother are killed by Ustashas. Dara makes it her personal mission and goal to insure the survival of her younger brother.

In an undisclosed location nearby, Dara's father Mile is tasked with removing and disposing of dead bodies. He is devastated when he discovers his own wife and son are among the dead. He also hears rumors that Dara is still alive somewhere in the Jasenovac complex.

Dara observes the cruelty of the officers in the camp and is shocked by the violence. One night the guards devise a game of musical chairs as entertainment for visiting German Nazi officers. The loser of each round is sliced open or bludgeoned by a hammer. With the help of a Jewish prisoner, Blankica, Dara plots a path to escape.

Cast

Production

An old brickyard located in the village of Kolut near Sombor was reconstructed and turned into a camp by production designer Goran Joksimović. The second part of the movie was shot in Bela Crkva.[10]

Children from Kozarska Dubica were chosen to portray numerous children who were imprisoned in the camp. Scenes with the children were shot in sequence in order to mask the growth of children over the three months of shooting and those young actors would better understand the material.[11] A psychologist was kept on the set.[11]

A number of actors from Republika Srpska took part in the project,[12] joined by their colleagues from Serbia.

Dara in Jasenovac was supported by Ministry of Culture and Information and Film Center Serbia.[13]

American scholar Michael Berenbaum served as history consultant and executive producer.[14][15]

The Serbian premiere took place in Gračanica and the movie was screened for seven days.[16]

101 Studios secured the U.S. rights for the film and released it in limited theatres on 5 February 2021.[15][17]

Reaction

Part of the Croatian media complained about the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC)'s lack of investment in historical films, in contrast to Film Center Serbia (FCS), and blamed them because a film that "depicts Croats as bad", since Vjekoslav Luburić is one of its main characters, was going to be distributed worldwide. They, however, praised Antonijević and Drakulić, calling them "a quality director and a quality screenwriter", as well as the film production.[18]

Due to coordinated rating on IMDb, either with the highest or the lowest number of stars, IMDb temporarily disabled the rating option for the film in February 2021.[19]

Critical reception

Jay Weissberg of Variety gave the film a negative review. While Weissberg does not dispute the brutality of the Ustasha regime and cruelty in Jasenovac, he questions the producers' motives and writes that the film contains "undisguised anti-Croatian and anti-Catholic elements" which are "designed as incendiary fodder" for current conflicts, and that it lacks any serious examination of the dangers of nationalism, racism and genocide which are instead replaced with "cheap sensation and sentiment".[20] Film director Antonijević responded to Weissberg's critique, dubbing it as a political "pamphlet" rather than a movie review as it contained "only two or three sentences about the film itself".[21] Serbian Minister of Culture and Information Maja Gojković alluded that the negative reviews were lobbied by Croatia.[22] Representatives of the film's distributor, MegaCom Film, stated that Weissberg had never previously reviewed any Serbian film, and that his review amounted to a relativization and trivialization of genocide.[23]

Writing for Film Threat, Ray Lobo reviewed the film positively, noting that it is "a unique World War II story worth watching" and serves as a "World War II education" as well as an "education in the Balkan conflicts of the last decade of the twentieth century". Lobo praises the film's production quality and lighting as well as the cast for effectively conveying "both the degradation of camp life and the will to live".[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ "PREMIJERA FILMA "DARA IZ JASENOVCA" PLANIRANA ZA 22. OKTOBAR | MCF". mcf.rs. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  2. ^ Dostanić, Dafina. ""Realnost logoraša je bila JOŠ JEZIVIJA": Nataša Drakulić o filmu "Dara iz Jasenovca"". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  3. ^ Serbia, RTS, Radio televizija Srbije, Radio Television of. "Premijera filma "Dara iz Jasenovca" planirana za 22. oktobar". www.rts.rs. Retrieved 2020-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Dusanic, Dragana (2019-11-01). "SNIMA SE: "Dara iz Jasenovca" u režiji Predraga Gage Antonijevića". Antrfile (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  5. ^ Serbia, RTS, Radio televizija Srbije, Radio Television of. "Premijera filma "Dara iz Jasenovca" planirana za 22. oktobar". www.rts.rs. Retrieved 2020-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Istorijska drama „Dara iz Jasenovca" premijerno 22. oktobra 2020. godine «  FCS". www.fcs.rs. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  7. ^ "Премијера филма "Дара из Јасеновца" планирана за 22. октобар". Дневник (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  8. ^ "'Dara from Jasenovac' Serbia's candidate for Oscar's best international film". N1. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  9. ^ FoNet, Piše. "Film "Dara iz Jasenovca" kandidovan i za Zlatni globus". Dnevni list Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  10. ^ "Potresne scene stradanja srpske dece u logoru smrti u doba NDH: Film "Dara iz Jasenovca" stiže na proleće". www.novosti.rs (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  11. ^ a b "Serbia—Dara of Jasenovac". Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  12. ^ "Premijera filma "Dara iz Jasenovca" planirana za 22. oktobar". Fajteri (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  13. ^ "Istorijska drama „Dara iz Jasenovca" premijerno 22. oktobra 2020. godine « FCS". www.fcs.rs. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  14. ^ "O filmu "Dara iz Jasenovca": Samo ustaše imale logore smrti za srpsku decu". NOVOSTI (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  15. ^ a b Fleming Jr., Mike (21 December 2020). "'Dara Of Jasenovac' Named Serbia's Official Oscar Entry As 101 Studios Makes U.S. Rights Deal". deadline.com.
  16. ^ "PREMIJERA FILMA "DARA IZ JASENOVCA": Sećanje na jasenovačko stradanje gledaju i Srbi na KiM". NOVOSTI (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  17. ^ Welk, Brian (18 January 2021). "'Dara of Jasenovac' Trailer Shows Horrors at Croatian Concentration Camp Through Young Girl's Eyes". thewrap.com.
  18. ^ "ZAKUKALI ZBOG "DARE IZ JASENOVCA": Hrvatski mediji zapomažu jer Zagreb ne ulaže ništa, dok Srbija podržava domaću kinematografiju". NOVOSTI (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  19. ^ Serbia, RTS, Radio televizija Srbije, Radio Television of. "IMDB ukinuo ocenjivanje „Dare iz Jasenovca"". www.rts.rs. Retrieved 2021-02-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Weissberg, Jay (2021-01-25). "'Dara of Jasenovac' Review: A Holocaust Movie With Questionable Intentions". Variety.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "OVAJ FILM SMO KRVLjU PLATILI: Predrag Antonijević o optužbama kritičara "Varajetija" da je "Dara" nacionalistički pamflet". NOVOSTI (in Serbian). Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  22. ^ "TEŠKE OPTUŽBE MAJE GOJKOVIĆ: Hrvatska naručila negativne kritike protiv filma 'Dara iz Jasenovca'?!". Slobodna Bosna (in Bosnian). 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "NOVE KRITIKE AMERIČKIH MEDIJA O FILMU "DARA IZ JASENOVCA" | MCF". mcf.rs. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  24. ^ Lobo, Ray (27 January 2021). "Dara of Jasenovac". filmthreat.com.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dara_of_Jasenovac&oldid=1005073533"