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Information

Year
1995
Runtime
170 min.
Director
Emir Kusturica
Genres
Drama, Comedy, War
Rating *
8.1
Votes *
43,366
Checks
5,842
Favs
804
Dislikes
66
Favs/checks
13.8% (1:7)
Favs/dislikes
12:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. Scratch47's avatar

    Scratch47

    Madness. Sheer madness. Telling the tale of some Yugoslav gun runner rebels who escape World War II by entering a bunker - and who stay underground as a resistance long after the war has ended - this is a cinematic trip and a half. It flips tragedy and comedy around in a tumble dryer, after all, the characters are not just losing their soul, but their mind. It's black surreal comedy with a dash of despondent screwball lunacy, populated by a downtrodden cast of characters who know their entire world is coming loose at the hinges, literally surrounded by animals, in one scene reduced to screaming like them in the dark. There's slapstick and a fleet-of-foot tone, but any lightness ultimately can only be attributed to the feeling of a nervous breakdown. The actors have supreme awareness of the dynamics required, and carry this deranged clown car of a film right up until the poignant ending where fantasy collides with reality again, spoiler Sure, war is hell, but hell has room for those too crazy to be monsters. I particularly loved the central character crashing in upon the filming of his own biography - and the hilarious meta-instances of one particular character's 'refusal to die'.
    It takes a lot of bravery to take such an angle on your countries' history, but I was transfixed throughout a near 3 hour running time. Watch it or you'll be 'always hanging yourself'. Oh, and I can't leave without mentioning the amazing score - or the pet chimp.
    9 years 7 months ago
  2. BareLolk's avatar

    BareLolk

    Beautiful piece of art with lots of great laughs! 9 years 9 months ago
  3. afan's avatar

    afan

    I cannot unsee what I just saw! Bonkers crazy! 10 years 1 month ago
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  1. shilz17 checked this movie 1 day 6 hours ago
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In 12 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #28 in iCheckMovies's 1990s Top 100
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    iCheckMovies's 1990s Top…

    28
  2. This movie ranks #33 in IMDb's Fantasy Top 50
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    IMDb's Fantasy Top 50

    33
  3. This movie ranks #42 in IMDb's War Top 50
    IMDb's War Top 50's icon

    IMDb's War Top 50

    42
  4. This movie ranks #45 in IMDb's 1990s Top 50
    IMDb's 1990s Top 50's icon

    IMDb's 1990s Top 50

    45
  5. This movie ranks #49 in IMDb's Comedy Top 50
    IMDb's Comedy Top 50's icon

    IMDb's Comedy Top 50

    49
  6. This movie ranks #67 in Cannes Film Festival - Palme d'Or
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    Cannes Film Festival - P…

    67
  7. This movie ranks #223 in iCheckMovies's Most Favorited
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    iCheckMovies's Most Favo…

    223
  8. This movie ranks #332 in TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films
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    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest F…

    332
  9. This movie ranks #341 in 366 Weird Movies
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    366 Weird Movies

    341
  10. This movie ranks #600 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Films of All Time
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    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    600
  11. This movie ranks #894 in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
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    1001 Movies You Must See…

    894
  12. This movie ranks #923 in Jonathan Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema
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    Jonathan Rosenbaum's Ess…

    923
View all lists this movie is in