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During the early 1990s, a series of conflicts occurred in what was known as Yugoslavia, resulting in the breakup of its constituent republics. One of the most severe conflicts was the Bosnian War, which took place from 1992 to 1995 between the forces of Radovan Karadžić, who rose to power during the crisis, with support from Slobodan Milošević, who was the President of Serbia. After the war ended, both Karadžić and Milošević were tried for war crimes committed during the conflict.
The Serbian Lawyer follows Marko Sladojevic, an international attorney assigned to defend both Karadžić and Milošević. What is notable is that Sladojevic was a Serb that was against Milošević during his youth, and had to flee the country eventually. The documentary attempts to chronicle the inner struggles of the lawyer in trying to do his job while trying to balance it against his own beliefs and his personal life.
Unfortunately, the documentary is not very successful. Despite setting up some compelling drama in terms of Sladojevic's conflicts and the details of the crimes and the trial itself, director Aleksander Nikolic never really delves into anything, but rather chooses to jump from topic to topic without much cohesion. Also, most of what little analysis is done about the case, never feels properly closed or finished.
I don't know how involved Sladojevic was in the preparation of the documentary, but in many ways, the documentary feels more like a self-absorbed attempt to "save face". There's a lot of time spent with him musing thoughts and opinions, without never really reaching any sort of conclusion or unified thought about both the accused, the events, or himself. But he does manage to promote an upcoming book he's writing. In that aspect, it makes sense that he's asking himself what is "the truth", because I was left asking the same thing myself.
Grade:
THE SERBIAN LAWYER
(2014, Nikolic)
A film from Serbia
(2014, Nikolic)
A film from Serbia
"One truth, another truth... a third truth. Who decides which one is the real one? Is it the New York Times or the judges? Is it the factions back home?... Is it me? I don't even know what the truth is in my personal life."
During the early 1990s, a series of conflicts occurred in what was known as Yugoslavia, resulting in the breakup of its constituent republics. One of the most severe conflicts was the Bosnian War, which took place from 1992 to 1995 between the forces of Radovan Karadžić, who rose to power during the crisis, with support from Slobodan Milošević, who was the President of Serbia. After the war ended, both Karadžić and Milošević were tried for war crimes committed during the conflict.
The Serbian Lawyer follows Marko Sladojevic, an international attorney assigned to defend both Karadžić and Milošević. What is notable is that Sladojevic was a Serb that was against Milošević during his youth, and had to flee the country eventually. The documentary attempts to chronicle the inner struggles of the lawyer in trying to do his job while trying to balance it against his own beliefs and his personal life.
Unfortunately, the documentary is not very successful. Despite setting up some compelling drama in terms of Sladojevic's conflicts and the details of the crimes and the trial itself, director Aleksander Nikolic never really delves into anything, but rather chooses to jump from topic to topic without much cohesion. Also, most of what little analysis is done about the case, never feels properly closed or finished.
I don't know how involved Sladojevic was in the preparation of the documentary, but in many ways, the documentary feels more like a self-absorbed attempt to "save face". There's a lot of time spent with him musing thoughts and opinions, without never really reaching any sort of conclusion or unified thought about both the accused, the events, or himself. But he does manage to promote an upcoming book he's writing. In that aspect, it makes sense that he's asking himself what is "the truth", because I was left asking the same thing myself.
Grade: