Underground Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

a modern classic?

I was very intrigued what I would make of this film, considering the contrasting views of other reviewers: was it five-star wonderful or a no-star disaster? To start with, it’s not ‘easy viewing’ with subtitles, unfamiliar cultural references, loads of things taking place on screen and two leading characters who looked so similar, at first I found it difficult to tell them apart. This added to the confusion in a film which was portraying the confused events of a turbulent history. It may say more about my attention span than the film, but I found it better to take a couple of breaks from the film, as it is so intense. So what kept me watching and what makes this a good – no, brilliant – film? Number one – the images. The director has produced tableaux which are visually stunning and are on a par with the best of European cinema: “I didn’t think they made films like this anymore”. Second, the story of Yugoslavia, a country forged in the insanity of the Second World War and destroyed in the insanity of the Balkan Wars at the end of the twentieth century. Between, Tito treated the population like mushrooms (kept in the dark and fed on sh*t), making them hide underground from imaginary enemies (hence the name of the film). In existence for about fifty years, the director sees the People’s Republic of Yugoslavia as a crazy invention of history, now remembered just as a weird dream: “We’re all mad, it’s just not all of us have been certified yet”, as one of the characters says. The film's surreal, dream-like quality is very successful: the manic village band’s accompaniment, death represented as underwater swimming, the insane roundabout of burning bodies, etc. etc. This is a film that requires effort to watch but it’s worth it. In time, 'Underground' could become a classic of European cinema.

Best film of all time?

This is the powerful, thought provoking and surreal story of how identity, history and friendship are distorted by war. The film charts the turbulent history of the former Yugoslavia through the lives of two friends, one of whome tricks the other in to taking refuge 'underground' thinking that war continues to rage above ground. Funny and heart-wrenching at the same time this is a film that deserves viewing after viewing.

An art lost in Hollywood

Packed full of the fundamentals of good film making, this film fills a void that Hollywood could not and would not ever dare to invest money into. Film was once regarded as an art form there, however unfortunately for us it has evolved into a formulaic pattern for profit, and it is now up to us to seek out these gems of foreign films that could never hope to receive the same amount of exposure and advertising as the latest rubbish regurgitation of the same old story from Hollywood.

The characters in this film are larger than life yet retain the essence that helps us relate to them, feel sympathy with, and seek a happy ending for. Spanning a time frame of 50 years, we follow these characters as they develop through Nazi occupation into civil war, whilst navigating their own personal issues. The film itself is a metaphor of the growth, suppression and break up of a nation as paralleled through the awkward love triangle of two best friends, fulfilling their own selfish desires throughout, who fall in love with the same beautiful woman (personally I feel the two friends represent Serbia and Croatia both pursuing the woman representing Yugoslavia [read unification] one suppressing and decieving the other to exploit him while possessing the woman [read Yugoslavia] however it all goes pear shaped when the lie of the exploiting Friend is exposed the exploited is out for revenge which results in the ultimate destruction of both Friends as a result of trying to destroy each other.) The film is crammed with meaningful symbols and foreshadowing, so much so that I think Alfred Hitchcock would be deeply impressed.

While the film pulls no punches and is uncomfortably realistic at times, it never takes itself too seriously and manages to capture the humour of the characters and situations without sacrificing it's integrity.

This is quite easily the best film I have seen in a long time, one of the best I have ever seen, and if you are a fan of cinema as opposed to movies, you must see this film. This film is simply a poignant modern masterpiece.

[Highly rated reviewer]

One of the most unique films I have every seen

Underground is a film that was always sure to win mixed reviews and reading below it certainly did that. This Yugoslavian winner of a prestigious Cannes film festival award has quite simply got to be one of the most unique films I have every seen. This utter mind warp of a film is based in Yugoslavia during the Second World War and follows the story of two notorious Communist activists whose single mission is to keep their country as their country, or is it? Shot in almost a 1920’s Marx Brothers comedy style this movie begins as bizarre as it ends. A constant and infectious band play music through most of the story involving Markko and Blakey whilst genuine war footage and historic fact break most scenes as the story works slowly but intriguingly towards several considerable twists and a remarkable conclusion. This film is hard going but will certainly create a talking point, be that positive or negative, for anyone who gives it the time and attention required. Underworld lost both my wife and I at times and as the scenes went on and on, only my uncontrollable curiosity to know what might happen next kept us watching at times. This is truly a unique piece of cinema that links splendidly back to an entertaining and satisfactory ending, there is comedy throughout but be warned this subtitled film is long, very long and many will not find it their cup of tea at all and with that I will sit on the fence giving 3 stars. We needed the TV set to Pillar-box to view the subtitles btw.

amazing

it is a story about two close friends in the second world war. one commits a crime and goes into an underground hide out with his family and some other families they know. eventually the war ends but the people in the cellar still think the war is on.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Overrated

So this may have won awards but its a relentlessly unfunny trip into war-torn Yugoslavia. The soundtrack is irritating beyond words, as are all the characters portrayed. It's not only boring but overlong, overacted and totally overdone! Maybe I was watching a different movie to those who describe it as a masterpiece, the film of the decade etc but really its very tedious and uninteresting. As for describing it as a comedy, well...it's not.

Imaginative

Superb characters and brilliant sets tell a some what long but rather complex story.Funny , tragic , deep and entertaining .

Definitely worth a watch.

oh no

I made a mistake I ment the reviewer before me was not helpful, to my horror I then see that this is relayed as a useful response, I'm off to take some pills now appologies to the makers of underground

mind-blowing stuff

This is the kind of film that gets called 'an incandescent tour de force' by pseudy critics. Actually it's extremely good, but like most long films, would be even better for 45 mins lopped off it. Great Slavic sensibility, with lots of hard-drinking, boisterous music and dental handicap, fantastic photography and surreal set design. But... er.... what's it all about?

Cult movie

Superb. No wonder it received the Palme d'Or in Cannes...Kusturica at his very best! If you approach 'Underground' with an open-mind, this energetic sub-titled 3 hour-long cinematographic jewel will take you into a theatrical vision of Belgrade's surreal underground life... where the madly devilish boldness meets Baltic aesthetics. In the verve of 'Arizona Dream' or even 'Brazil', this masterpiece will appeal to true cinema lovers. This raw cult movie reflects and inspires passion with a vigor rarely found in contemporary movies.

In 1996, members of the Yugoslavian Board of the Academy of Film Art and Science (AFUN) voted this film the third best Serbian movie made in 1947-1995 period. If you like American blockbusters - don't waste your time...you will not get it.