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      Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams

      Released Feb 16, 2007 1h 47m Drama List
      98% 43 Reviews Tomatometer 86% 2,500+ Ratings Audience Score A full decade after the ethnic conflict that left the city of Sarajevo in ruins, the widowed Esma (Mirjana Karanovic) and her adolescent daughter, Sara (Luna Mijovic), struggle to survive in a country still raw from the violence. Esma attempts to scrape together the money for an expensive school trip by taking a job in a sleazy, mob-connected disco. While Esma gingerly enters a relationship with bouncer Pelda (Leon Lucev), Sara meets her first love, fellow outcast Samir (Kenan Catic). Read More Read Less
      Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams

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      Critics Consensus

      An emotionally blunt and gripping drama, Grbavica deftly explores the emotional toll that all wars take upon those who survive them.

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      Audience Reviews

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      david l There is a lot to be said about Grbavica when it comes to the highly biased, questionable intentions of its director and its entirely underserved, political win at the Berlinale, but it's far from great even judging it objectively. The acting is excellent as Mirjana Karanovic is reliably outstanding. Her character is also strong and the film's treatment of the PTSD stemming from rape was very well handled, but the dialogue was so on-the-nose, many confrontations lacked nuance and some were utterly unbelievable. Additionally, the direction of the movie is rather poor, making its win at the aforementioned festival even more problematic. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Grbavica delivers as a real-life family drama. It is refreshing to see acting more genuine than melodramatic, and yet still make for dramatic effect. The film may be a bit difficult to follow in places if you are unfamiliar with the culture (I am) but overall, the cultural aspect makes the film moreso interesting than confusing. All-in-all, Grbavica is a refreshing change from your typical studio films. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member The other reviewers here have said most of what I wanted to say but...this is a very subtle yet so moving film. It didn't sound that interesting initially, but most of the descriptions leave out the spoilers (expected) but those spoilers will knock you off your chair emotionally--even as you can just about figure them out as the film progresses. I can't imagine a dry eye in any movie theater at the end of this extremely powerful movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member A truly Beautiful Heart Warming Story 9 out of 10 Bosnian movies are about the Balkan Conflict but this stands out of the lot . This is a beautiful drama which concentrates on the complex relationship between a Mother and Daughter . This examines intricate nuances delicate relationship between rape victim and resulting offspring . This gives us facets on love born out of pure hate. Its a window in a posat war Bosnia . With two main characters exploring lives and new avenues .The coming of age of the daughter with the mother re-examining her mindset towards a life.Mirjana deservedness a lot of praise portraying struggles of a rape victim, torn between motherhood and struggle reinventing herself.Even the subplot between Sara and her flame is quite engrossing and doesn't feel stale . The only Con I can find is Kira Knightly ? ( Aurthur Sucks and Knightly is antitheses of everything Cool) The theme of the movie is Motherhood and the pure love of a mother towards her child Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member A powerful reflection on the cruelty of war in the former Yugoslavia and its sad results. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member This would be more powerful if we more fully understood the culture of Bosnia-Hergovina and the Balkan war. Aside from that, this is an eye-opening look at the aftermath of war when all you want to do is lead a normal life. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams

      A scene from the film "Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams." A scene from the film "Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams." A scene from the film "Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams." A scene from the film "Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams." A scene from the film "Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams." On the set of the film "Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams." A scene from the film "Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams." Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams (2006) Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams (2006) Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams (2006) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

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      Deborah Ross The Spectator This is a smart, moving film, and ultimately optimistic. Hate may have the questions, but love has the answer. Aug 22, 2018 Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle [Director] Zbanic makes the awful seem commonplace and vice versa, while adding ominous shadows to Esma's untold backstory. The war might be over, but fear and hope remain locked in a rapturous stranglehold amidst the rubble. Rated: 3/5 May 18, 2007 Full Review Robert Denerstein Denver Rocky Mountain News Grbavica increases in power as it progresses. It's a movie about the ways in which people yearn for healing and about the many obstacles that work to prevent it. Rated: B May 18, 2007 Full Review Los Angeles Daily News Rated: 3.5/4 May 19, 2007 Full Review Winda Benedetti Seattle Post-Intelligencer This is a slice of Bosnian life, a powerful peek at average people trying to live their average lives despite the extraordinary and unthinkable things that lie in their past. Rated: B+ May 4, 2007 Full Review Sean Burns Philadelphia Weekly Lovely in its understatement, quietly but insistently demanding that Esma's story, and those of too many other women, finally be told. May 2, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A full decade after the ethnic conflict that left the city of Sarajevo in ruins, the widowed Esma (Mirjana Karanovic) and her adolescent daughter, Sara (Luna Mijovic), struggle to survive in a country still raw from the violence. Esma attempts to scrape together the money for an expensive school trip by taking a job in a sleazy, mob-connected disco. While Esma gingerly enters a relationship with bouncer Pelda (Leon Lucev), Sara meets her first love, fellow outcast Samir (Kenan Catic).
      Director
      Jasmila Zbanic
      Screenwriter
      Jasmila Zbanic
      Distributor
      Strand
      Production Co
      Coop99, Jadran Film
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      Serbian
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Feb 16, 2007, Limited
      Release Date (DVD)
      Jun 12, 2007
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $43.1K
      Runtime
      1h 47m