Stylish but barely mediocre overall

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

''Pretty village, pretty flame'' is war movie with anti war message. It's story about 2 childhood friends separated by war and forced by their religion and nationalism to fight against each other. This movie portrays war as it is, and it delivers universal massage about war.When it came out in 90's this movie was banned by regime in Serbia because it was labeled as anti-Serbian. At same time it was being labeled in other ex-Yugoslavia countries as pro-Serbian and it was getting banned in Croatia and Bosnia. This movie is at moments hard to watch, and for people that aren't familiar with ex-Yugoslavia situation in 90's some things might be confusing, but overall this movie is a real masterpiece of Balkan cinematography.

I first saw Srdan Dragojevic PRETTY VILLAGE PRETTY FLAME just over ten years ago on channel 4 and instantly thought it was the best film to feature the conflict in the former Yugoslavia . This might be down to the fact that the Serbs are shown as being both perpetrators and victims of atrocity , something the Western press wasn't to keen on saying while the conflict was going on in the early 1990s . The media reporting was rather simplistic with the Bosniaks being totally victims and the Serbs being total bad guys so it's good seeing a film from the Serb perspective , especially one where the world isn't viewed in black and white The film is told through a fractured storyline and the story cuts backwards and forwards between the characters when they were children living in a Socialist Yugoslavia , then it cuts to the war itself when they're trapped in a tunnel then forward to a short time when the survivors are lying maimed in a hospital . It might sound complicated but the story is very easy to follow . SLUMDOG MILLIONIRE also had a fractured storyline but that was extremely complex structure , maybe too complex for its own good where as here everything is easy to follow You don't need to be well informed in Yugoslav history to appreciate the film fully but it does help , especially the terms for the warring factions . Croats are now known as " Krauts " and " Ustase " ( The Croation fascist movement set up by the Nazis during the war ) , the Bosnian Muslims are now known as " Turks " while the Serbs consider themselves " Chetniks " Serbian nationalist from the second world war . Setting much of the story in a dilapidated tunnel built in the socialist era and " The Tunnel Of Brotherhood And Unity " is a metaphor for the failings of Yugoslavia falling apart . It is an ironic metaphor and the film oozes scathing irony such as a bunch of peace protesters standing outside the hospital promising the injured soldiers that " No one will lie to you again " a take on Slobodan Milisosevic infamous conversation to a Serb protester battered by Muslim police in Kosovo in 1987 that " No one will beat you again " Some people may complain that it's pro Serb but as a neutral observer it can be disputed since no one is shown as being terribly nice in a civil war . The Serbs burn down villages ( And in one brief scene another human being ) while the Muslims use a Serb rape victim as a proxy bomb . Since much of the story is told from inside the tunnel there's a feeling PRETTY VILLAGE PRETTY FLAME could have easily have worked as a stage play than a film and this is a problem I had with NO MANS LAND but this movie is still slightly more cinematic . I wouldn't claim right out that it's the best film featuring the war because SAVIOR does have a slightly more emotional and human edge to it , but PRETTY VILLAGE PRETTY FLAME is still a good anti-war film that is both subtle and ironic

So many would be confused with facts and plot, To all non Balcan origin people, suggest first find info about Balcan history then watch film. Us I grow up in communistic regime under Tito's and winners of ww2. And us such, who survived idiotic and unnecessary civil war in former Yugoslavia. At first time when watched film in cinema. My head was spinning since my generation experienced events in film on hour own skin. I find it extremely accurate and horrifying precise. Its what it is image of period and time of collective madness warning to all others not to fall in limb of war hell.So if you are from USA Vietnam is similar subj. At the end great against war film make you think is Hollywood stood up to truth or is reserved to independent production.

My opinion is that this movie is one of the strongest anti-war drama ever made. Only problem that comes is that you must be Serb to completely understand this movie. The thing is, every single second of the movie, every single word, the soundtrack are the row of symbols that creates a giant and complex puzzle made of historical events, way of living on Balkans, way of painting the portraits that will show you and let you to understand how did the war in Bosnia happened.Movie is retrospective story, based on the true events. It is actually a row of memories of the two Bosnian Serb soldiers who survived few horrific days, trapped in tunnel, during the war in 1991. The tunnel was occupied by Muslim soldiers and with that fact we get to the first problem that was later, after the movie was finished and played in cinemas, used as main weapon of critics, saying that Serbs just want to show that they were victims in war.For everyone, who will watch this movie, and who doesn't live on Balkans, I'll try to explain some basic facts of the movie, and also, I'll try not to spoil your enjoying.This movie is a story of all consequences that war brings us. It is universal story of war, showing some basic facts that are similar to all wars, but in the same time, movie describes some things that are connected only with war in Bosnia.The story starts in hospital, where the wounded are transported from the battlefield. There, the director introduce us with two characters. Two soldiers who survived the tunnel. Milan and Proffesor, both Bosnian Serbs. From their perspective, dialogs and memories,story leads us back, in Milan's childhood, where we can see his relationship with his friend Halil ( who is Bosnian Muslim ). Later, when the war begins, these two friend will be on different side of the tunnel. Halil, in the squad of the Muslim who occupied it, Milan with the Serbian squad who was trapped in the tunnel. Then the story goes on, introducing us , with whole Serbian soldiers and one American journalist who got there accidentally , trapped in tunnel. Every soldier has his own reasons that will make you understand, why did they checked in Serbian army, and why did they wanted to go on the battlefield. Than, the story goes straight, showing us events in the tunnel ( memories ) and the happenings in Belgrade ( real time ), during the protests against Slobodan Milosevic's regime ( one of the major facts that explains directors anti-war point ). Story goes on with shocking scenes, melancholic atmosphere, and tragic events that will lead to the final conflict. Did war changed Milan? His final confrontation is wounded Muslim prisoner of war who lies on the same floor of the hospital as he does. Did Milan became a dog of war?Story was written by journalist Vanja Bulic, who was a host of TV drama-show called "Biseri" ( in English "The Pearls" ). Milan, the main character in the movie, is actually a guy who was a guest in that show. He told Vanja his shocking story and than the screenplay was written, off course, with some artistic changes.This movie is grotesque, shocking, drama about one time on Balkans. About fall of former Yugoslavia. About mentality of the all people who lived in it. Check the lyrics in soundtrack, listen closely every word in dialogs, follow the symbols... I hope you will understand that there is no winner, there is no loser. Point is always the same, there is only destruction, there is only just suffering.