Life Is a Miracle
Encyclopedia
Life is a Miracle is a Serbian
drama film
directed by Emir Kusturica
in 2004. It was entered into the 2004 Cannes Film Festival
.
and western Serbia
in 1992. Luka, a Serbian engineer, has moved to Bosnia from Belgrade
with his mentally unstable wife, Jadranka, and his football-playing son, Miloš, to run a railway station and act as caretaker. Luka is at work preparing the opening of the railway while Miloš attempts to become a professional footballer with the Partizan team. Utterly engrossed in his work and blinded by natural optimism, Luka remains deaf to the increasingly persistent rumblings of war, which has broken out in Croatia and threatens to spread.
When the conflict explodes, Miloš is denied his place on the football field when he must join the Serbian army
, and Jadranka disappears on the arm of a Hungarian musician. Eventually, he receives news that Miloš has been taken prisoner of war
. Luka considers suicide, but a profiteering acquaintance presents him with Sabaha, a Bosnian Muslim whom he has taken hostage.
Luka intends to exchange Sabaha for Miloš, but the two fall in love after they are forced to flee deeper into Serb-controlled territory. When a UN-enforced prisoner exchange is finally arranged, Luka and Sabaha try to escape to Serbia, but Sabaha is wounded by a Bosnian sniper as they attempt to cross the Drina river. Army nurses narrowly manage to save Sabaha's life, and she is exchanged for Miloš, along with other prisoners. Jadranka also returns, and the family is reunited in their old home, but Luka is lovesick. He lies down in front of a train, but when the train stops to avoid running over a mule, it is revealed that Sabaha is on board, and the two ride away on the mule.
Cinema of Serbia
The Cinema of Serbia comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of Serbia or by Serbian filmmakers abroad.Serbia has been home to many internationally acclaimed films and directors.-Serbian theatre and cinema:Serbia has a well-established theatrical tradition with many...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Emir Kusturica
Emir Kusturica
Emir Nemanja Kusturica , is a Serbian filmmaker, actor and musician, recognized for several internationally acclaimed feature films...
in 2004. It was entered into the 2004 Cannes Film Festival
2004 Cannes Film Festival
The 2004 Cannes Film Festival started on May 12 and ran until May 23. The Palme d'Or went to the American film Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore.-Jury:* Quentin Tarantino, President * Emmanuelle Béart * Edwidge Danticat * Tilda Swinton...
.
Plot
The film opens just as construction has been completed on a railway connecting a mountainous regions of eastern BosniaBosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and western Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
in 1992. Luka, a Serbian engineer, has moved to Bosnia from Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
with his mentally unstable wife, Jadranka, and his football-playing son, Miloš, to run a railway station and act as caretaker. Luka is at work preparing the opening of the railway while Miloš attempts to become a professional footballer with the Partizan team. Utterly engrossed in his work and blinded by natural optimism, Luka remains deaf to the increasingly persistent rumblings of war, which has broken out in Croatia and threatens to spread.
When the conflict explodes, Miloš is denied his place on the football field when he must join the Serbian army
Army of Republika Srpska
The Army of Republika Srpska ; Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian Vojska Republike Srpske ) also referred to as the Bosnian Serb Army, was the military of today's Republika Srpska which was then the "Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina", a self-proclaimed state within the internationally recognized...
, and Jadranka disappears on the arm of a Hungarian musician. Eventually, he receives news that Miloš has been taken prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. Luka considers suicide, but a profiteering acquaintance presents him with Sabaha, a Bosnian Muslim whom he has taken hostage.
Luka intends to exchange Sabaha for Miloš, but the two fall in love after they are forced to flee deeper into Serb-controlled territory. When a UN-enforced prisoner exchange is finally arranged, Luka and Sabaha try to escape to Serbia, but Sabaha is wounded by a Bosnian sniper as they attempt to cross the Drina river. Army nurses narrowly manage to save Sabaha's life, and she is exchanged for Miloš, along with other prisoners. Jadranka also returns, and the family is reunited in their old home, but Luka is lovesick. He lies down in front of a train, but when the train stops to avoid running over a mule, it is revealed that Sabaha is on board, and the two ride away on the mule.
Cast
- Slavko ŠtimacSlavko ŠtimacSlavko Štimac is a Serbian actor. He graduated from The Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, Serbia.Slavko Štimac made his screen debut in the 1972 film Vuk samotnjak...
as Luka - Nataša ŠolakNataša ŠolakNataša Tapušković , maiden name Šolak is a Serbian actress. The blonde green-eyed actress is most recognized for her role as Bosnian hostage, Sabaha, in Emir Kusturica's Life Is a Miracle, in 2004.-External links:...
as Sabaha - Vesna TrivalićVesna TrivalicVesna Trivalić is a famous Serbian actress.Studied at Dramatic Arts Academy in Belgrade. Mainly plays supporting roles, but always quite effective. Known for her ability to change voice...
as Jadranka - Vuk KostićVuk KosticVuk Kostić is a Serbian actor, famous of his roles in films Apsolutnih 100, Stvar srca and Klopka.- Private life :...
- Aleksandar Berček
- Branislav Lalević
- Stribor Kusturica