Exactly a year back, I was in a week long film appreciation course in Pune’s National Film Archives of India (NFAI). I had written about that experience here. We had watched many movies as part of the course. Starting today I want to write about those over here in the blog. Today it is about a war film called No Man’s Land. This film does happen on war field, for sure, but does not involve much of war. It is about situation during war between two countries, related to area not belonging to any of those countries. 1914’s first world war film Merry Christmas deals with ‘no man’s land’ situation but in different way with different message.
No Man’s Land is a movie of 1992 Bonsian War. The country of Yugoslavia was disintegrating creating new countries, when this war took place. Two soldiers from opposing factions, during the conflict, accidentally land themselves into a trench which is recognized s no man’s land. The situations the film which gets created after this is of total chaos, leads to many funny, absurd, humorous scenes. This film is sort of black comedy.
The war film is very popular film genre as you know. Many war films on both the world wars, Vietnam war, Iraq wars have been made. India, Pakistan conflicts have there share of films. Haqeeqat is one of them. No Man’s Land is certainly special film. This film does not talk much of anti war propaganda, but rather absurdity in the war is highlighted. The common man is always against war. So this film highlights absurdity one as an manifestation of expression, but not for changing the mindset of the leaders against war.
No Man’s Land poster, courtesy Internet
Yugoslavia consisted of many ethnic communities, specifically it was consisting of eight republics (a federation). Two things come to my mind when we talk of Yugoslavia. Marshal Tito, the community leader and Monica Seles, the bygone era tennis star who was stabbed. The federation of Yugoslavia had Croatia in it, which also got separated as an independent country. I have a Croatian descend American colleague in the USA. I should meet him next time I visit Philadelphia and talk about his experience of war. Anyways, due to rising conflicts, these republics started separating, in the process creating conflicts. Such times United Nations gets involved, to curtail the situation, with negotiations, medical help, and even with armed peacekeeping forces if required. I am not sure if the story in the film is based on real events there, but two soldiers of opposite parties find themselves in a trench which belonged to nobody (between Serbian lines and Bosnian lines). They fight, insult each other. It was dangerous to get out of it during the daytime. As it gets dark, another soldier who is badly injured gets near to them inside the trench other side, who is unconscious.
The trench guard soldiers pick up this, seemingly, dead third soldier, and tie to land mine which can explode due to pressure caused by movements. After a while he gains consciousness. Now this creates situation which is strained, and funny at the same time. This UN forces now get involved in saving this and other two soldiers. With UN forces there, the TV news reporters also jump in. Suddenly, it becomes hot topic world-wide. All this creates humor. What happens next in the film, is something, I won’t reveal, you need to watch it yourself. You could watch the trailer on YouTube here. The movie is not English, it has English subtitles though.
I watched this movie on the fourth day’s evening of the course. Next day, there would be a session to analyse it from film appreciation aspects, and we had one for this film too which was interesting.
Welcome to PPK's Blog! 