A Serbian Film: The Right Snuff (If You Can Handle It)
I’m sure if you keep up with Horror, or even paid attention to this year’s SXSW and Cannes film festivals then you’ll have heard whispers about Srdjan Spasojevic’s A Serbian Film (A Srpski Film). A movie so brutal and relentlessness, many who saw it on the festival circuit truly doubted it would ever see an official U.S. release…at least not without heavy editing. I first learned of it after I arrived in Austin for the 2010 SXSW festival, where my host, Justin (of Mondo Tees) told me he had just seen it the night before. He recounted the premise and encouraged me as a fan of Horror to try to see it if at all possible. I hunted down the trailer soon after and as an avid gorehound was really curious to see a film so disturbing that it left a potential distributor, disgusted, woozy and bloodied upon screening it!
I finally got my hands on a screener copy and going into it I really didn’t know what to expect from the film. I knew more or less that this was going to be some sort of Torture Porn probably in the vein of Hostel, where the film pushes the limits of brutality and depravity, but is very tongue-in-cheek about it. There is an inherent camp to films like Hostel that by no small measure is influenced by classics like Blood Sucking Freaks and Blood Feast. A Serbian Film though? There’s no camp here. The closest this film comes to comedic relief is with Sergej Trifunovicthe’s character of Vuknir, the director. Trifunovicthe is quite fantastic as the villain, every time he entered a wrapped scene saying “Bravo, bravo, bravo” I wanted to say “Bravo!” right back to him. In his own way the villiain here is the only filter Trifunovicthe offers the viewers in desensitizing them from his film’s very savage nature. To say that this is a pretty dark and brutal movie would be an understatement, but the film’s most shocking aspect isn’t the gore or the disturbing situations it depicts (which are pretty shocking mind you), but rather how well done all of it is. The acting, directing, cinematography and even the authenticity of the scenes are all handled at such a high level that it will not only catch you off guard, but make you uncomfortable. Torture Porn this may be, but Trifunovic truly cared about his craft with this film and it wasn’t merely trying to rush something out to shock audiences.
So what the hell is the film about anyway? It centers around Milos, a retired porn star (once greatest in the industry!) who is now living a modest life with his wife and son. One day an old co-star gets in touch and offers Milos a job, one last film for some very discriminating clientele that will leave him set for life. Intrigued, Milos sets out to meet the director, the enigmatic Vuknir. After a very friendly meet and greet where Vuknir praises Milos’ artistry, they get down to business. Vuknir needs Milos for his new film because no other actor can take pornography and turn it into art, Milos on the other hand need Vuknir because, well, he needs the money. Vuknir is very secretive about the film’s plot much to Milos’ concern, informing him that “knowing” it would ruin the authenticity of what he is trying achieve. So while apprehensive and worried by this at first, the money draws Milos into working for Vuknir.
Slowly but surely the mysterious nature of the film and the disturbing quality (beatings, humiliation, incest, underage actors, you name it, it’s in this film) of each new scene drive Milos to his breaking point and he tells Vuknir that he must quit the project. After a short sit-down which includes a screening of Vuknir’s latest “masterpiece” (I’m not going to give that away as it’s one of the films most shocking scenes), Milos is left more disturbed than ever. What Milos doesn’t realize is that Vuknir anticipated that this may happen and has drugged his drink. So whether he likes it or not, Milos will be completing the film. As Milos tries to leave he is soon overtaken by a drug induced haze and awakens at home a few days later bloodied and bruised with his family nowhere in sight. This then launches into the film’s very graphic and very disturbing climax with Milos desperately trying to retrace and remember what he did on film.
I’m sure I’m not going to be giving anything away if I tell you that what Vuknir is filming is a snuff film (its an obvious plot point) of the highest order! “ART!” as he would call it. But is there any artistic merit to this sort of relentless Torture Porn? That’s hard to say. Horror has always been a game of pushing the envelope as far as you can take it, most times it’s just half-assed cash grab for adrenaline junkies and gorehounds. But every so often someone truly seems to cares about depicting depravity in the most artistic way possible and you get this sort of film which opens the debate on if there is any artistic merit to extreme horror. But that’s something I can’t answer since as with all things this extreme your feelings towards it rely entirely on your taste and stomach.
Spasojevic has said the movie was an allegory for what went on in Serbia during the 90s. The brutality in the movie was no joke, as was the violence and brutality that was going on against the people of the country. Systematic raping of women and children, brothels set up with unwilling participants for soldiers and officers on both sides of the war… and god only knows what other horrors we don’t even know about. If that truly was his goal, Spasojevic succeeds in capturing it all in A Serbian Film.
But in no small part, what makes the disturbing nature of A Serbian Film so compelling is the way it evokes so many other great directors and films. The premise hints at John Carpenter’s last great work, Cigarette Burns; the look of of some of the on-film sets evoke David Lynch’s Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks. The overall mood, and nagging ambivalence to the characters evoke Von Trier; and of course Spasojevic’s penchant for capturing brutality on camera are up there with Eli Roth’s. All making for a very potent cocktail for those thirsty for this sort of stuff.
A Serbian Film pulls zero punches, leaves no taboo untouched and a good portion of the film’s brutality is centered around women. This is the sort of movie that stays with you, whether you like it or not, so please really consider that before you decide if you’re up for watching it. Now of course there are those who upon hearing that will know right away whether or not this film is for them. If you happen to be in that group whose taste does lean to the extremes of cinema, then I truly think you’ll come away from A Serbian Film both equally disturbed, satisfied and probably saying “Bravo!”
There is no official release date for A Serbian Film, but I’m sure some US Distributor will try and pick it up, simply on the buzz it has created for itself..that’s if it doesn’t get banned in the U.S.
- My Pal the Crook
July 14th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
I don’t think movies can really be “banned in the U.S.” but from this review it would be NC-17 so super limited theatrical release but most likely direct to DVD…
Plus in this day and age, banning a movie doesn’t mean much anyway.
Certainly sounds like a good exploration of an audience’s limits though…
How long does it last exactly? From the trailer it seems like there is just as much “thrill” as there is actual violence…
July 14th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Ah, just looked at the commentaries on IMDb; they certainly make it sound ban-able.
Huh.
July 14th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
It’s an hour and 40 minutes and it definitely has some thriller elements to it. Part of the time Milos is trying to figure what the hell he’s actually filming and who he’s working for.
July 14th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Argh…guess my comment didn’t go through. Was planning on blogging this, but you beat me to the punch & with a much better write-up considering I watched this at 4 am this morning & am still searching for words…
If you have any apprehension about seeing this film then DO NOT SEE THIS FILM. Seriously, it makes Saw or Hostel look like Disney films. One of the reviews said it “makes Gaspar Noe seem like Tim Burton.”
I had to stop halfway through & wonder how it could fill the second half or get any worse…it does on both counts. I had to google reviews just so I could prepare (somewhat) myself for what was to come.
You can not unsee what has been seen & if you play chicken with this film, you’re going to fucking lose…be forewarned. I’m glad I saw it but I don’t think I’ll be revisiting this film any time soon if ever.
Now, if you wish…here’s a streaming link for the screener…
http://xtshare.com/toshare.php?Id=37013
And another analogy… “A Serbian Film” = The Aristocrats…
July 14th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I could write something completely pretentious. Then again, I could be pompous and condescending.
does it impress you when I use words like “existentialism”?
Maybe I’m arrogant? Or maybe I’m just obnoxious.
July 14th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
whatever happened to the X RATED MOVIE?
July 14th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Another thing worthy of mention with this film is the jarring and extremely effective soundtrack by Wikluh Sky…sparse, minimal, but with enough edge to certainly be unsettling and definitely works to unnerve you (as if the film itself weren’t enough on its own…
Here’s the main cut, Pazi šta radiš…
July 14th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Pal, I have said many times that your taste is excellent. But for you to cite Cigarette Burns in this review is the pinnacle of well versed reviewing.
When I read the article in Fangoria about the existence of this film I was in rapture, finally the real world has our own Fin Absolute De Monde.
Thanks for once again having the balls to speak your mind, this movie is one of the most exciting things to happen to cinema in years. IMO
July 15th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I just watched the screener. Bravo!!! Loved it. Definitely left me feeling uneasy, which is good. Also, Serbians like Whiskey, and its funny how they call it Rye.
July 15th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
after seeing “Antichrist,” I dont really need to see much more – I’m good on this.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Wow, what an ending. Def disturbing and something that will probably linger. The gore isn’t what gets you it’s the psychological suspense and the perverted subject matter. Really well crafted though. I’m not sure how many people “need” to see it but I do imagine that the allegorical aspects of the story might be troubling and or healing for some, especially those who had to actually endure these types of horrors in real life. That being said people are pussies and a movie like this shouldn’t be banned just watched with a full understanding that it is disturbing. Certainly a work of art. Thanks for the review and posting.
October 21st, 2010 at 9:51 pm
A Serbian Film will be playing at our upcoming film festival at Portage Theater in Chicago on Saturday, October 23rd.
July 13th, 2011 at 12:54 am
“Spasojevic has said the movie was an allegory for what went on in Serbia during the 90s.”
He never said that . Some critic may have said that but not the makers . Spasojevic was asked by croatian paper if the film is depicting war events and he said no .
July 13th, 2011 at 9:12 am
Maybe you should search out some of his english interviews from around the time the film was hitting festivals well over a year ago? He also said as much in his own director’s statement on the film’s website which seems to have now been edited.
This Bloody Disgusting interview brings it up and this The Guardian UK review mentions it as well as lifting quotes from his old Director’s statement clearly alluding to it.
July 13th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
I read all his interviews and the director’s statement and it is just not there , including the links you provided . His only statement is “This is a diary of our molestation by the Serbian government.” Nowhere has he said this is about the Serbia of the 90s and the wars . As I said the croatian interview asks him if the movie is depicting war events and he said no , that the movie is not touching war themes , that it is about post-war society and in a metaphorical way dealing with one man being pushed to the extreme in order to provide for his family . The heading says “Srdan Spasojevic: My shocking Serbian Film exposes the fascism of political correctness.” I will put the link here later ; you can’t read croat but you can use google translate .
July 13th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
How is “This is a diary of our molestation by the Serbian government” and “being about the Serbia of the 90s and the wars” not two inter-related things?
July 13th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Well, this is the problem. There is a huge difference believe it or not. One has a completely different meaning than the other. Of course , you can be forgiven for making that mistake as the makers are being intentionally obtuse.
http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Kultura/tabid/81/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/101831/Default.aspx
July 13th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
July 13th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Once again how are “This is a diary of our molestation by the Serbian government” and “being about the Serbia of the 90s and the wars” not inferring the same sentiments.
You say there is a huge difference, yet provide no proof how those two statements mean two different things when they don’t. I’m far from any sort of expert on Serbian history and am not seeking to even debate you on it. That said, both of those statements allude to the same thing… mistreatment of Serbians by the govt.
July 13th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
I already showed you what Spasojevic said in the interview . So obviously the movie is not about the wars and nowhere in the makers’ statements have they used the word “90s” . I know what the movie is about and unlike you I can explain almost every scene but I am not getting into that here . My point is that you misquoted Spasojevic and that nowhere did he say that . It’s very simple really .
July 13th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Just explain “newborn porn.”
July 13th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
New Born Porn is not about the wars and the 90s either .
July 13th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
I didn’t misquote anyone because I didn’t use a quote. All I stated that the film’s graphic nature was a response to what was happening in Serbia during Spasojevic’s lifetime based on what he’s stated, which is true. You seem to have some sort of myopic issue with me using “90s,” which is ridiculous. As if Serbia and it’s gov’t were a paradise then and hence the quote “This is a diary of our molestation by the Serbian government” couldn’t possibly be applied to that period of history. It absolutely can.
Right. You just want to start some pointless argument over semantics that in essence state the exact same point. Go back under whatever bridge you crawled out from under and finish your thesis on on A Serbian Film and we’ll be here whenever you’re ready to explain every scene including “newborn porn.”
July 13th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
When you say “Spasojevic has said …” , then that’s a quote , sorry .
I have said everything I wanted to say . I have proved that movie is not about the wars and that Spasojevic never said that . That’s all I came to say . Bye now .
July 13th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Simply stating “has said” (see that’s actually quoting something) isn’t the same as quoting someone. But realizing you think it is, I now realize you probably have some issues with reading and understanding English.
And outside of being a troll you really also haven’t proven a single thing. But Godspeed in thinking so.
P.S. Punctuations do not require a space before and after. You can quote me on that if you ever get a handle on how the whole quoting thing works.
July 13th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
I guess you are the one that has a problem with English because I told you what Spasojevic said . The movie does not touch upon war themes and deals with post-war society . You can squirm around trying to insult me or whatever , it is futile .
Really , that is the end of the discussion .
But it was fun , thanks .
P.S. Your reply won’t be seen this time around as I am gone .
July 13th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
You understand that in that paragraph, what I’m speaking to infers the societal effects of the war (during and post, all of which happened in the 90s and neither are not mutually exclusive things) and not the causes leading to the war (which I have to assume is what you mean and think are “war themes”). All of this is fully in line with the point you’re trying to make here AND with what Spasojevic has stated.
P.S. I bet you do see this reply.
P.P.S. I bet you respond to it also.
August 19th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
The kosovo war ended in 1999 . The fact is you don’t know one single thing about this movie and you continue to be fixated exclusively on the 90s .
I came back because I decided I would let you know what the movie is about .
Vukmir’s character is based on the well known Director Srdan Dragojevic . He was trained as psychologist , went to a foreign country and when he came back to Serbia he started to make movies catered to the foreign market . His movies are funded by the pro-western Serbian government . The actor who plays Vukmir , Sergej Trifunovic , was fired from one of Dragojevic’s last movies and Srpski Film is on one level a revenge on Trifunovic’s part .
“As much as we try to deal with our life in this film allegorically, and with the corrupt political authorities that govern it, we are also dealing with today’s Art and Cinema and the corrupt artistic authorities that govern them in a similar manner here. The films that preach and enforce political correctness are the dominant form of cinematic expression today.” … “Contrary to the peerless politically correct facade of the New World, it’s still a soulless devouring machine for killing every small freedom – of art and free speech – we have left, destroying everything different in its path.” http://aserbianfilm.co.uk/statement.html
The checkered floor , the man with one eye , alice in wonderland , right hand shake are all taken from New World Order , Illuminati conspiracy theory . See for example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9cnk5SqwBo (NWO = New World Order). The one eye above the pyramid is on the U.S. Dollar bill and represents the Eye of Horus . Conspiracy theory is very popular in the Balkans . There is a Serbian video on youtube called Digitalni Andjeo Zig Zveri ( Digital Angel Mark of the Beast ) . Among the many things discussed there are RFID technology that will allow world corporations to insert a bug ( digital angel ) under employees’ skin for monitoring purposes , that the Serbian 3 fingered salute is actually Illuminati symbolism and that everyone should stock up on “rye” to prepare for the coming of the AntiChrist . The right hand shake and abortions are also discussed . The New World Order is alluded to in some of the statements made by the makers . There is for example the above “politically correct facade of the New World” and also this quote by Radivojevic : “In the film, the hero is also a victim in a way because he is not at the top of the pyramid .” (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/interview/638) Radivojevic is referring to Vukmir’s remark to Milos that only Milos is not the victim . In the film , Milos represents the Serbian government . Milos is not the victim because he is the government but there is someone higher than him in the hierarchy . Much of the dialogue in the movie is referring to the current political situation in Serbia .
To understand some of the dialogue in the movie , you have to have some knowledge of the political situation in Serbia . In Serbia there is currently a pro-western government that was installed about 10 years ago .
Milos says “I dunno , I’m a little tired of cameras and f******.” This one is obviously about the civil wars . Cameras are referring to the world news cameras .
Vukmir : “You’re also tired of h****** scum any time your family needs dough. Kissing some wretched c**** with the same lips you’ kiss your kid”. The “scum” is referring to foreign politicians .
Vukmir says : “Do you know what is proof that there is art in pornography? You , Milos . Your sense of handling a woman , your rhythm , of exhausting her , your talent to humiliate her , and then , when she is reduced to dog-s*** , to win her back .” More biting sarcasm . This is saying you exhausted NATO , humiliated NATO ( shot down stealth , minimal damage to Serbian equipment etc. ) but later you just let her back in .
Milos to his wife , “I love you , i was just f****** them” . “Them” is the croats and muslims . But he loves the west .
Marko watches video of Milos and says “Look at him servicing all of them … one … two … three” . One , Two , Three = EU , USA , RUSSIA . (the count of one ,two ,three was not translated in the subtitles , it just says “all three of them” )
Vukmir : “This whole country is a bunch of kids discarded by their parents .” Here is why the movie is set in an orphanage . The people have been abandoned by their government ; the government is busy looking after their own privileges and wheeling and dealings .
The kids represent the people in Serbia . See how Petar hits Milos on the head with the balloon police stick .
The act Milos performs on the one-eyed man is a play on the vulgar Serbian phrase “I will f*** you in the eye.”
I have much more but this suffices to explain what the movie is about . You might be able to figure out some other things .
If you still don’t get it I will explain some more .
“…The films that preach and enforce political correctness are the dominant form of cinematic expression today. Nowadays in Eastern Europe you cannot get a film financed unless you have a pathetic and heartwarming ‘true story’ to tell about some poor lost refugee girls with matchsticks, who ended up as victims of war, famine and/or intolerance. They mostly deal with VICTIMS as heroes, and they use and manipulate them in order to activate the viewer’s empathy. They make a false, romanticized story about that victim and sell it as real life. That is real pornography and manipulation, and also spiritual violence — the cinematic fascism of political correctness. We can freely tag these pictures as compassion-porn…” “… (We) chose not to sugar-coat and pamper mainstream art film audiences and kneel down before European film funds in charge of embracing by-the-numbers politically correct films from Eastern European countries.”
http://aserbianfilm.co.uk/statement.html
The film makers are angry that they are not able to make the movies they want to make . They are telling the Serbian government , OK so you want to only make movies about war criminals and victims ? We can play that game too then . They feel they can’t make a movie in today’s world unless it is sold as having a politically correct message .
The shocking scenes in the movie are simply showcasing extreme political correctness and are intended to shock the viewer and brutally embarrass the Serbian government and its cinema . It is a protest against the “fascism of political correctness.” And they are having a little fun by having the Serbian government ( Milos ) help them .
And in case you don’t figure it out , New Born Porn = New World Order .
So , I decided I would let you know and that is all I came back for . Nothing you say could possibly be of value or interest to me , so bye bye for good .
August 19th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
See I said you’d be back! Thanks for the thesis there.