I Know Your Soul

The best series I have ever seen from the Balkans! Congrats to Jasmila and team for this huge success. The series has absolute HBO quality, can be compared to similar Western series, and could be shown internationally (I watch it in Switzerland via HBO Adria). The dialog is cleverly thought out, the stories are real and exciting at the same time, interpersonal relationships are portrayed in all their complexity. It is a pleasure to be able to watch such an intelligent production. Please keep up the good work, we want more! Jasmila is famous for her extraordinary filmmaking, and she can obviously also produce series very well, in keeping with the spirit of the zeitgeist.

This is not your typical crime show but then again not your typical show from the balkans. High quality, great acting, not predictable, great shots. I was suprised to see a bosnian show on HBO MAX in Czech Republic, but here we are. The show seems so realistic, it makes you really believe that this is how it is in Sarajevo. Main actress Jasmila is such a great actor. But the other actors as well. I have seen some shows from that area and often they are cringe, but not this one. It gives you somehow this melancholy feeling, which I like. It also is not a violent crime show, which is generaly a plus for me. They are not looking to get viewers to stay with drama and shocking scenes but just good writing and acting.

I recommend to see this show and I plan to rewatch for sure after it finishes.

Jasmila Zbanic has proven herself as an excellent screenwriter, once again reaffirming her talent. Creating characters with depth and sincerity, she captures the essence of real people. The dialogues feel genuine and real.

The story is filled with small details that will bring a smile to your face, touch your heart, or perhaps bring a tear to your eye. It's all done with subtlety and balance.

Notable highlight of this show is remarkable cinematography and visuals, portraying both exterior and interior scenes, that evoke a strong sense of (yugo)nostalgia. Sometimes, it's the small details - like a pot on the table and worn-out tiles in the kitchen - that add a touch of authenticity.

Selma Alispahic, portraying the mother of the boy who took his own life, displays subtle emotions that resonate deeply. Her performance is truly remarkable and will be remembered as a standout achievement in acting. Bravo! Kemal Rizvanovic is excellent, spontaneous, authentic - a real breath of fresh air on screen! Jelena Kordic Kuret is spectacular - it's my first time watching her I am delighted by her performance! Izudin Bajrovic is a top-notch actor - he portrays the pain of a father who lost a child, all in a subtle and authentic manner. Jasna Djuricic is a diva - we always expect the best from her, and she consistently delivers.

On the other side, Lazar Dragojevic is too old to be a high school student (and it is evident).

A spectacular series, so in touch with its depiction of reality, it will have you hanging onto your seats for a good half of the total runtime (possibly even more). Naturally, in the last episodes the momentum sort of tricks down a bit but it is hardly sensed throughout the run of events. The emotional stamina of the cast is outstanding and they each represent their character as well as if it were a second skin to them. Despite the somewhat long-winded explanations and plot-twists, the story has much to offer and is unlikely to bore you, provided human pain, suffering, drug abuse, addiction, trauma, corruption, lack of justice, the feeling of helplessness in the face of the state/society at large, the values and sacrifices of motherhood (on focus) and parenthood in general, should be of any interest to you. It is in the end a story of finding yourself and choosing yourself before anyone else.

The series is typical Jasmila Zbanic, full of pessimistic and negative views of the Bosnian society, with dated views implying everything is bad, corrupt, bleak and that people are hopeless. The series creator depicts an early 2000s Bosnia society riddled with crime, violence and prostitution, however set in modern B&H which might make the viewer think that Bosnians live worse than people in Soviet Union did.

In fact Bosnia remains one of the safest countries in Europe with a lot of hope among younger people and things are getting better by the day.

Back to the series - It's not coherent, there are many plot holes in terms of dates, the fact general people can talk with the public prosecutor in their private office which is absolutely illegal, polygraph use by the police which is illegal, prosecutor participation in police raids which is unheard of.

Actors depicting high school kids are 28+, the only positive thing about the series is a tremendous acting performance by Jasna Djuricic. Otherwise it lacks a clear idea than to paint a sad picture of the modern Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, a common theme among the work of the author, not allowing her to escape her single dimensionality.