Cirkus Columbia

Danis Tanović planted his debut No Man's Land in the period of the escalating civil war, exposing his protagonists to a hopeless situation and cruel decision-making between miserable alternatives. Even back then, he managed to lighten the largely depressing subject with a sense of cynical irony and (very dark) humor. In Cirkus Columbia, he returns to the beginning of the Balkan conflict and presents the viewers with the causes of the breakdown of Yugoslav society through several personal dramas. He applied greater detachment here and brought the film closer to comedy in terms of genre. The core of Tanovic's success is a quality screenplay that leads the film's characters on unexpected paths without resorting to logical shortcuts and convolutions. It tells a deeply human story of people divided by a sense of injustice and belonging to a different "tribe," whose future depends on their ability to let go of wounded vanity and extend a helping hand. The return of emigrant Divko was supposed to be a justified triumph after two decades of fleeing his homeland, to present him as a successful man and humiliate those with whom he has unfinished business. However, once again, grand history managed to make life hard for Divko and mock his efforts. In a country where rules, institutions, and interpersonal relationships collapse, it is difficult to survive, let alone build a foundation and lead a contented life. I don't like it when the director tries to emotionally manipulate me, but what Divko found at the end of his journey is worth five stars. Overall impression: 90%. (25/07/2021)