Quo Vadis, Aida? * * * *

 The whole Serbian/Bosnian/Croatian conflict is something I'm aware of, but I can't say I have much of an understanding of the reasons as to why they fought with such terrible violence and willful cruelty - or what they were even fighting for.

This film doesn't make it any clearer.  But what it does show you is how horrible the whole situation was by focusing on a particular event - the genocide that took place at Srebrenica.  

Srebrenica was a town in Bosnia where over eight thousand men were executed.  Most of them were civilians. But the Serbian army figured that all soldiers were once men, who were once civilians, and killing their men was a certain way to ensure the Bosnian's won't be able to recruit more soldiers. 

Aida ... No, its' not the opera!

The United Nations had set up a camp just outside of Srebrenica as it was obvious the town was going to fall.  Thousand of civilians sought refuge in the UN camp.  The camp was hopelessly under resourced. It didn't have food, water, or even toilet facilities for such an influx. Outside the camp thousands more frightened people were desperate to get in.  

The story is mostly told through a woman in her fifties - Aida. Being the only English speaking person available Aida was in the unfortunate position of having to pass on the bad news to everyone.  

What became quickly evident is that the Serbian army had very little respect for the UN force.  As is so often demonstrated the UN Forces are very reluctant to fight or even raise their weapons to defend people.  The Serbian army arranged a meeting with the UN Forces. The outcome was terrible with all the Bosnians being forcefully relocated from the UN camp, but as they were being loaded on to the bus The Serbs separated the men for "further questioning".

Aida is frightened for her own family.  She has a loving husband and two sons.  Part of the story is Aida torn between working to save thousands and desperately trying to save her own family.  At one stage finding herself in a Sophie's Choice situation.

The re-creation is extremely well done, with real sets and many extras.  No CGI.  Director Jasmila Zbanic has a way of moving from a landscape of thousands of desperate people to also showing them in close up and slow motion. Anonymity is eliminated as they pass before the camera face by face, each one an insightful portrait of a human.