Underground

Emir Kustirica, Hungary/Germany/France 1995, 192 minutes

Underground is based on a 20 year old play by Balkan scriptwriter Dusan Kovecevic, but under Kusturica's tutelage turned into something altogether larger; a tragi-comic epic.

The film begins with the invasion of Yugoslavia and the bombing of Belgrade by the Germans in World War II. It covers the story of opportunist profiteer (and Communist) Marko and his friend (electrician, Blacky), who are members of the partisans fighting against their German oppressors. The Underground of the title is an underground cellar where the partisan's families seek refuge away from the occupiers. After Blacky's wife dies, he tries to marry a local opera singer, Natalija (who also has eyes for a German officer - Franz), but is betrayed by Marko (who later saves him, steals Natalija and deposits a wounded Blacky in the cellar).

In the cellar the partisans make arms for the resistance. However, when the war ends, Marko fails to let the partisans know. They therefore continue making arms for Marko, making him a wealthy man.

The film alternates between high comedy and Balkan melancholy coupled with a superb sound-track from local gypsy musicians. The film does not take itself too seriously; when Blacky, the wireman, is tortured, the heros are blatently falsely inserted into vintage footage of Yugoslavia during and after the war. When Blacky and son finally do emerge they come up during a filming of a movie about themselves. This provides a highly involving humour which, paired with the pure energy of the film, makes its 169 minutes breeze by.

The ending of the film seems a little out of character with the rest of Underground, but gives us an opportunity to savour once more the ludicrously high energy gypsy title music while simplifying the wholesale destruction of the former Yugoslavia.

The film is truly exceptional (winning the 1995 Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival following the acclaim of Kusturica's award winning When father was away on business). The Observer rightly reviewed it as a `tour de force'

Review by Stephen J Brennan
Taken from EUFS Programme 1997-98