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Bookmark this pageUnderground (1995)
Director: Emir Kusturica
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
There's no denying Kusturica's technical virtuosity as he mounts one hectic, large-scale set-piece after another, but in the end it's hard to fathom the exact purpose of this epic allegory. Starting in 1941 with the German bombing of Belgrade, and moving through the post-war Tito years to the present, it follows the antics of two irrepressible con-men who become, in different ways, national heroes. One, having hidden his friend, along with many others, in a cellar to save them from the Gestapo, neglects to tell them of the war's end, profiting from their arms-making industry, until they finally break free to discover that some things never change (even though countries may disappear). Played as broad, noisy black farce, the film is about the deception of politics and heroism, dog-eat-dog morals and the propensity for violence, but one can't help thinking that behind the sometimes sensational apocalyptic imagery, there's less here than meets the eye.Author: GA
User reviews of this film
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- Dom B said...
- Posted on Dec 04 2009 23:51 I think perhaps you need to get a grip Tob - I agree with this review wholeheartedly. An important subject told with a whole lot of bombast, hysteria and unfunny slapstick - populated by hateful characters - definitely an acquired taste, and one that pro-Serbs will defend to their final breath. Doesn't make it a great film - just a long one.
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- tob said...
- Posted on Aug 18 2009 11:16 Time Out-reviewers tends to be angry, ignorant fools, as you would obviously be to write such a stupid review of this great film. Get a grip
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Emir Kusturica
Producer: Pierre Spengler
Cast: Miki Manojlovic, Lazar Ristovski, Mirjana Jokovic, Slavko Stimac full cast
Rated: 18
Duration: 192 mins
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