Ordinary People 2009
Distributed by Global Film Initiative, 145 Ninth St., #105, San Francisco, CA 94103
Producer n/a
Directed by Vladimir Perisic
DVD, color, 70 min.
College - General Adult
Political Science; Peace and Justice Studies; Military Studies
Date Entered: 03/14/2012
Reviewed by Cindy Badilla-Melendez, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MNDžoni, a young soldier and a recent recruit is called for duty along with his comrades. Džoni and his mates are traveling by bus when they hear over the radio that terrorists are committing executions in order to terrorize the population and that the military is deploying more troops and terrorists will be arrested and sentenced harshly. After the bus ride, they arrive at an abandoned farm, where they must wait for further orders. While they are waiting at the farm, a bus comes in and starts unloading groups of men. The commander explains that these men are the enemy and that Džoni and his comrades have to take care of them. Džoni hesitates and says that he can't but after a few minutes he goes through with the act. Throughout the day, executions become a routine for Džoni. You start seeing the transition from a nervous novice to a trained killer. The film clearly points out the adaptation to violence as Džoni learns and follows the procedures of his new job. He constantly stares at his hands reflecting on how quickly he learned to kill.
Not specifying which war is being portrayed, it is presumed to take place during the Balkan conflicts in the 1990s. The film clearly shows the psychological and the dehumanizing effects of war on men, the painful reconciliation between morality and their acts with those participants in war. The thought of what humans are capable of doing or becoming is frightening as is the ease with which one can change into some kind of murderer in the name of God, race, religion, power, or control and still feel justified.
This film is a deep inner reflection of the human being’s transformation into evil. This mostly wordless film makes you think of the continuation of massacres, holocaust, and genocides not justified that are happening right now somewhere on this planet.
The film is only 70 minutes long and the lack of dialog makes it feels a little slow-moving but the main points are well made throughout the film.
Ordinary People is well directed, with good acting and fine technical aspects. It is in Serbian with subtitles in English.
Awards
- FIPRESCI Prize, Best Actor, Heart of Sarajevo, Sarajevo Film Festival
- Cineeuropa Prize, Miami International Film Festival
- Best Film, Special Mention, Trieste Film Festival