El círculo perfecto

Balkan cinema, often overlooked and undervalued by Western audiences and festivals, mirrors the West's historical disregard for the Balkans, particularly Bosnia. This unfortunate pattern of neglect extends to Ademir Kenovic's 1997 masterpiece, "Savrseni Krug" ("The Perfect Circle"), a profoundly underrated film that offers an intimate and unflinching look at the Bosnian genocide.

The film's power lies in its raw authenticity. The performances are unvarnished and naturalistic, drawing viewers into the lives of ordinary people caught in the maelstrom of war. The set design is meticulous, recreating the war-torn streets of Sarajevo with harrowing realism. And the cinematography is nothing short of breathtaking, capturing both the beauty and brutality of the conflict.

"The Perfect Circle" is more than just a war film. It's a poignant exploration of human resilience, compassion, and the enduring power of hope in the face of unimaginable suffering. The film's central character, Hamza, a poet struggling to survive in a besieged city, embodies the indomitable spirit of the Bosnian people. His unexpected bond with two orphaned boys, Adis and Kerim, is a testament to the enduring power of love and connection, even amidst the chaos of war.

The film's title, "The Perfect Circle," refers to Hamza's ability to draw perfect circles, a metaphor for his unwavering belief in the possibility of order and beauty, even in the midst of destruction. This unwavering optimism, however naive it may seem, is ultimately what sustains Hamza and the boys through their ordeal.

"The Perfect Circle" is a film that deserves to be seen and remembered. It's a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of bearing witness to the suffering of others. It's a film that challenges us to confront our own complacency and to never forget the lessons of history.

War torn Sarajevo and life turns into a game as you play dodge the bullets. Hamza, (Mustafa Nadarevic), is a poet with visions of his own death by hanging, a way to escape the misery that surrounds him. Until one night he stumbles upon two orphans who put a hold on his misery as he attempts to get them out of hell. War is ugly but those who suffer are the ones with a will for peace and harmony.

This brilliant film pictures accurately the cruelty and absurdity of a war that doesn't say its name. How can we stand still when we see the distress of innocent children (and adults are children too in that case) facing that, the big mute violence without sense. As a European viewer, I am also very shocked by the proximity of the facts, the decay of civilisation so close to Europe itself. By the way, what do we do exactly to help these people ?

This could have been a very depressive movie depicting the pointlessness, destruction and despair of war. In a war torn, besieged Sarajevo, society disintegrates, people's lives are shattered and normalcy becomes a dream.

Instead this film is an elegy to humanity that manages to beat the odds and survive through acts of love and compassion. Of course, there are many films like that, but in this one, the director manages, shorty after the end of the war, while the wounds are still fresh, to avoid to focus on any political or ethnical issues and is concentrating on the human factor and this is what makes this film so powerful. People, all sorts of people are trapped in the hell that is Sarajevo, friends and enemies alike.

The plight of the innocents to survive, each hour, each day and night, escaping random and senseless indiscriminate dying is heart rending, but there is hope expressed by the two children and contrasted strongly with the despair of the poet, that cannot find a solace in his art: "who cares about art now?", he wonders. Or "how can nightmares be worse than what we are living through now?".

Very good acting from the main characters, especially from the children, fine directing and haunting photography of a ruined Sarajevo. A must see!

As a Sarajevan who did not spend time in Sarajevo during the war, but heard many stories about how it went during the war. Everyone told me this is the most accurate film made about Sarajevo in the war. So please watch it! And try to imagine how would you feel in the situation like that. Let us hope no one would ever be in the situation like that in Europe ever again! There is a memorial for the children of Sarajevo killed in war in the central park in Sarajevo.

Sarajevo did not deserve that! It is an Winter Olympic City, and as like that should of deserved better, but geopolitical faith intervened...