Children of Sarajevo (Djeca)
Contemporary World Cinema
Aida Begić / Feature Narrative / Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, France, Turkey / 2012 / 90 min / Colour / DCP
In Bosnian / Arabic, English subtitles
Interests: Drama
Gulf Premiere
Synopsis
Director Aida Begić belongs to the postwar generation of young filmmakers from Bosnia and Herzegovina for whom the recent history of the former Yugoslav nations, the city of Sarajevo, and their people provide a bountiful resource of creative material. Sarajevo and a shattered society in transition are the grim backdrop for ‘Children of Sarajevo’, whose story revolves around 23-year-old Rahima and her 14-year-old brother Nedim, orphans of the Bosnian War. Rahima struggles to make ends meet to support herself and Nedim, whom she is determined to keep out of the care of the state. Comforted by her recently strengthened faith in Islam, Rahima stays as best she can on the right side of the law – and encourages Nedim to follow in her footsteps. Begić expertly captures the reality of a society that has lost its moral compass and has forgotten the sacrifices of those who fought for the freedom of their city and their society.
About the Directors
Born in Sarajevo in May 1976, Aida Begić first attracted international attention with her debut feature, ‘Snow’, which won the Critics’ Week prize in Cannes and was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Oscar submission in 2008. She has made numerous commercials, two documentaries, three shorts and contributed to the 2011 omnibus feature ‘Do Not Forget Me, Istanbul’. She teaches directing at the Sarajevo Academy of Performing Arts.
Credits
- Director
- Aida Begić
- Screenwriter
- Aida Begić
- Producer
- Aida Begić, Film House Sarajevo
- Editor
- Miralem Zubčević
- Cinematographer
- Erol Zubčević
- Cast
- Marija Pikić, Ismir Gagula, Nikola Đuričko, Staša Dukić, Velibor Topić