A Serbian Film

I've written a book and some articles about film censorship, so given the controversy looming around this particular film, and its highly interesting release history in the UK (read wikipedia for more), I got my hands on a pre-release uncensored copy. What's very interesting is that apart from some suggestive shots hinting at pedophilia and the extension of the film's most gruesome, unforgettable scene, it's all there, only left to the imagination - leaving me with the question I've come up with whenever confronted with such a case: if censorship leaves certain aspects to the spectator's imagination, isn't the effect even more stimulating?

Yes, 'A Serbian Film' undoubtedly runs for the title of the yuckiest film ever. Yes, it's definitely reveling in the very muck it pretends to criticize, i.e. the complete and total moral decay of our times. I would have very much favored an incorporation of the (presumably Western) consumers of the kind of pornography it deals with, for that remains the film's weakest aspect: the social commentary is quite accurate, but not sufficiently explored.

And yet, 'A Serbian Film' is still unmistakably a piece of art. The technical specs are top-notch for such a limited budget. The acting, especially Sergej Trifunovic as psychiatrist-turned-porn producer Vukmir, is nothing short of (disturbingly) wonderful. And most important of all: the underlying anger appears to be real. I was in Serbia for a festival last year (prior to this film's release), and cannot help but remember how similar some opinions and stories I heard were to the views expressed in this film. That being said, I completely understand why Serbs were outraged at this film. Being born in Romania, which has an equal share of ethical bankruptcy, I must admit that if this had been made in Romania, and called 'A Romanian Film', I would be very very mad.

This is one of those rare pieces of celluloid which will most likely not allow for any neutral point of view, like 'Mondo Can(nibal)e', or Pasolini's 'Salo', or the collected films of Catherine Breillat. The difference for me is that I usually dislike films of this nature because of their wantonly exploitative nature serving no narrative purpose; that purpose, however, exists in 'A Serbian Film', making it all the more disturbing and relevant.

An ageing porn star is given a chance to do something a little different, a movie that will take him in a whole new direction.

I was warned, I was warned by people who will probably read this review, I said I'd post it after watching it.

Initially there are a few interesting moments, and a few scenes where you're think you're in for something good, sadly as it progresses, all that is wiped, and lost in among a slurry of blood and gore. It simply goes too far, there were some decent ideas, but the realisation was just loathsome.

I wish I hadn't watched it, this has overtaken The Human Centipede as the movie I wish I could unsee. I am struggling to agree with those that class this as an art film, that's a joke, it's purely a sick fest, a movie about exploitation and depravity of the highest order.

I ordered this on dvd, I genuinely plan of chucking the disc at the bottom of a skip, in the hope that nobody picks it up and tries to watch it.

Detestable.

1/10.

I liked that I didn't know what was going to happen until the very end. The film presents and gathers together the vile films that a normal person would not watch. I wouldn't recommend it to people who don't exactly want such perversions because it would be traumatic. I also like the development of the several intertwining plots at the same time. This conveys credibility to the story itself, which brings the viewer even more into the story of the main character. This movie mixes sadness and anger in one. At the end of the film, the person watching is confused whether he should be sad for the characters or angry because of all the bad things that have happened and there is a sense of injustice.

Controversial, graphic, violent, unsettling, disturbing, devastating & disgusting but an underrated cinema nonetheless that dares to explore the darkest side of adult industry, there's no denying that A Serbian Film is destined to upset majority of viewers with its gross, sickening & utterly discomforting subject matter which is exactly its motive but looking beyond its on- screen depiction of every taboo, it's also a pretty bold piece of filmmaking.

Set in Serbia, the film tells the story of Milos; a well-past-his-prime porn star who's happily married & has a son but the family is going through financial difficulties. Contacted by one of his former colleagues who has a job offer for him, Milos is introduced to the new director & finally agrees to participate in an "art film" only to discover that he's been drafted into making a pedophilia & necrophilia themed snuff film.

Brilliantly directed, fairly performed, effectively paced, superbly handling the elements of suspense & featuring many deeply disturbing sequences from start to finish, A Serbian Film is certainly not for the faint-hearted or the easily distressed or even a completely normal human being plus its so-called political allegory is nothing but an excuse to justify the pervertedness depicted here as the only reason why this film exists is to shock the viewers in the name of art.

Yet, a story like this needed to surface on the screen not because it has a motive but because it represents a far darker side of world which most people choose to ignore, despite being aware of its existence. On an overall scale, A Serbian Film is an extremely unnerving story about porn industry but is definitely not porn plus it isn't afraid to jump deep into the abyss & bring everything to the surface, which it manages to do in an unflinching manner.

Yes it's going to leave you emotionally scarred & No, you don't have to watch it just for the sake of it. Make your mind multiple times before you hit the play button and for those who think they can handle this stuff, just when you'll be thinking that this sadistic experience is finally over & you're almost out of this dark tunnel, the final line just before the end credits will do enough damage to break all hell loose. Watch it at your own risk.

Consider this not exactly as a review, but as a warning from a friend, in case you haven't seen this film yet and are curious about it. There are already many good reviews here dealing with the cinematographic, technical, cultural etc aspects of this film, so I won't add anything new there. This is not about the film, but about you, the potential viewer.

As many other reviewers, I've seen a significant amount of "extreme" or strong horror movies. Fear and shock are powerful emotions, and films are a safe and entertaining way of experiencing them. Some of them left a deep impression in me, sometimes for a few days, but that eventually vanishes.

With this film, it's a different story. It may leave permanent scars in your mind that will ruin some of the best experiences of your life, such as witnessing the birth of your child or lying in bed caressing a son's hair. Violent and obscene thoughts will keep intruding, and it's scary for me to think how much this can affect some people. If you think that you may belong to this group, don't risk it. There are many good films out there, and you may go on living without watching this one. Otherwise, go and watch it, but just remember that images can not be erased from your brain aftewards.

This is why this is so different. The fear does not come during the movie. It comes after. And it is too real.