No Man’s Land, directed by Danis Tanović, is a film focused around a Bosniak soldier, Ciki, and a Bosnian Serb soldier, Nino, who are trapped in a trench between both sides of this civil war. Another Bosniak soldier, Cera, wakes up to discover that he has been placed on top of a bouncing mine. Ciki and Nino take turns controlling the situation depending on who has a gun in their possession until the UNPROFOR shows up. A French sergeant wants to help the men, but none of them can leave the trench unless they all leave; however, once the media gets involved, everything changes.
No Man’s Land shows globalization is present in the Bosnian War. The Bosniak Ciki has a Rolling Stones T-shit on, the UNPROFOR is involved even if they do not help in the conflict much, the media from other countries is everywhere, and the mine that plays a crucial role in the film was made in the recently founded European Union. English is a universal language that is used whenever people do not speak the same native language. All these different presences show the outside influence.
The director often shows movement in the background of the shots to show secrecy instead of showing a new shot or creating a scene outside of the frame. Also, he uses low angle shots from the trench to the UNPROFOR and high angle into the trench to show who is in control of the situation. Through these and many other techniques, the director shows the theme that these two forces have no control and the higher force, UNPROFOR, who should be in control, has limited control. The film is critical of UNPROFOR’s lack of involvement and shows that the war will not come to an end without force from some side.
Brian Forsyth
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This is a strong summary and analysis of the film. It displays full understanding of the present conflicts while also showing the effect of globalization that are present in the film. However, maybe more mention of the cinematography used by the director would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good review and summary, though the last paragraph is slightly contradictory and ergo confusing to read. Are you saying that the camera angles promote one side to be in control, or that they simply portray confusion? If the later, how so? I agree that the UNPROFOR officers lack control, and cinematographic evidence would be useful to push this point.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job of summarizing and mentioning the most important aspects of globalization. You also talked about cinematography. I think that there are some important parts about the film that you are leaving out, such as the what the actual conflict in the movie is. Also, how the movie is labeled as a comedy and whether it is effective in the film or not.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I agree that this movie is a good indicator of the globalization that occurred in Bosnia during that time period. The Rolling Stones t-shirt show how England culture had spread to foreign nations. The low/high camera shots also played a role in indicating where the power lied. When Ciki had the gun, there were high camera angles to show his power and same with Nino
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brian's analysis of globalization in the film. Globalization was apparent with different aspects of the UN and the media's involvement in the film. Also, I agree the camera angles when the soldiers were in the mines were great representations of who was in power at the given time.
ReplyDeleteI think more than the fact that the UNPROFOR has limited control, it doesn't like to take responsibility. Even when there are many chances for the organization to take control, the leaders tend to brush it off and leave the waring regions to solve the problem. Until the inefficiency of the organization comes up between the media, the organization leaders tend to ignore the situation. Rather than limited control, I think it was just being irresponsible.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that this a very well written film analysis of the movie. The mention of the effects of switching between high angle and low angle shots was a very good point. I did not even realize the commentary this made on the situation and the authorities in control. The lack of control Ciki and Nino have within the trench suggested by the camera angles, may also be translated into their total loss of control at the end of the movie and the ultimate outcome of both soldiers.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good summary of the movie. It does a good job at pointing out the aspects of globalization such as the Rolling Stones shirt and the use of English. It also does a good job of showing how globalization affects the movie.
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