When Father Was Away on Business details
| Format: | 15 DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Moreno D E Bartolli, Miki Manojlovic, Mirjana Karanovic |
| Director: | Emir Kusturica |
| Genre: | Drama - War |
| Studio: | ARTIFICIAL EYE FILM COMPANY LTD. |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
When Father Was Away on Business |
15 Feature |
DVD Information
| Rental release: | 21 Aug 2006 |
|---|---|
| Main languages: | Serbo-Croatian |
| Subtitles: | English |
Write your own review
Most helpful review
A Cannes winner
By Savage (632 reviews) from London, England , 01 Jan 2007[Highly rated reviewer]
Kusturica's breakthrough picture, and somewhat more restrained than his later work, perhaps because he's more distanced from the political turmoil he is describing. Most of his common concerns are already present and correct, though, with a family torn apart by conditions completely outside their control, and events which other directors would take immensely seriously, here given a broadly comic spin.
The result is not quite confident enough to carry all the film's baggage, but it's highly recommended and huge fun.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (14) Yes |
- No (0)
All reviews
(10)A bit of a curate's egg
By a customer , 09 Jan 2012To get the most out of this film you probably need a bit more than the very rudimentary knowledge of Yugoslav history most of us have. The portrayal of events through the perspective of three young boys circa 1950 is its greatest appeal, and boy can these charmers act! There are some intriguing adult characters too. But frankly it got a bit wearing at over two hours long, and the advertised humour is as low-key and sparingly rationed as meat in a wartime British sausage.
I'm sure it's a highly significant film from a highly significant director, but if the Balkans don't mean particularly much to you it's too long to make enough of an impact.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
Yugotta hand it to em
By Oldbloke (313 reviews) from Sidmouth , 12 Dec 2010Late 40's Yugoslavia and a philandering husband's casual remark to his mistress sees him arrested by his brother-in-law, the local party enforcer. Whilst he is 'away on business', his youngest son narrates the story of the family's subsequent trials and tribulations. Fortunately, their grey and spartan life is enlightened by much humour and convincing performances. Credit to the director for not buying audience sympathy by casting attractive children. But for a faulty disc which wouldn't play certain scenes, this might have got an even higher rating.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
When father was away on business
By a customer from Rickmansworth , 19 Sep 2010It was interesting to see Tito's Yugoslavia, the way it was not really any more free than the Stalin's model. Well acted, but a bit boring, could be better if it was cut. However, it portrait the time very well through the eyes of a small boy.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (1) Yes |
- No (0)
This cannot be done in hollywood ...
By esse (13 reviews) from London , 13 Aug 2010No frills, no nonsense - just solid movie-making - wonderful, exhilirating, spirited - a movie that deserved the palme d'or, and so much more ...- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
when father was away on business
By fortgrey (7 reviews) from guernsey , 02 May 2010We loved this film. It really stays with you and made us want to research the period.
The characters are beautifully drawn and acted and we were totally engrossed. Well worth watching.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
