No Man's Land (2001 film)
Encyclopedia
No Man's Land is a 2001
tragic war drama
that is set in the midst of the Bosnian war. The film is a parable
and marked the debut of Bosnian
writer and director
Danis Tanović
. It is a co-production among companies in Bosnia-Herzegovina
, Slovenia
, Italy
, France, Belgium
and the UK
.
(Čiki, portrayed by Branko Đurić) and a Bosnian Serb (Nino, portrayed by Rene Bitorajac
) are caught between their lines in the no man's land
, in a struggle for survival. The two soldiers confront each other in a trench, where they wait for dark. They trade insults and even find some common ground. Confounding the situation is another wounded Bosniak soldier (Cera, portrayed by Filip Šovagović
) who wakes from unconsciousness. A land mine
had been buried beneath him by the Bosnian Serbs; should he make any move, it would be fatal.
A French
sergeant (Marchand, portrayed by Georges Siatidis), of the United Nations
Protection Force (UNPROFOR), gets involved in effort to help the three trapped soldiers, despite initial orders to the contrary by high command. UNPROFOR's mission in Bosnia was to guard the humanitarian aid
convoys, to remain neutral and act as a mere bystander. Luckily, an English
reporter arrives on scene, bringing media
pressure to bear that moves the United Nations high command to swing into action to try to save the soldiers.
A row between the stressed out and fatigued Čiki and Nino gradually escalates even after being rescued. Eventually, Čiki shoots Nino and is in turn shot by a Peacekeeper. After this confrontation, it is found that the mine cannot be defused. The UNPROFOR high command tries to save face: they lie, saying that Cera has been saved and they leave the area, along with the reporters and everyone else.
In reality, Cera is left alone and desolate in the trenches, still immobilized by the mine. Meanwhile, the UNPROFOR commander has arranged false information to be passed to both Bosnian and Serb troops, to make them believe their enemies will be trying to reoccupy the trench at night (which each side would try to counter with an artillery
barrage that presumably will kill Cera and obliterate the evidence).
No Man's Land won Prix du scénario at the Cannes Film Festival
, followed by numerous awards, including the Oscar
for Best Foreign Language Film
in 2001, while in competition with French Amélie
and the Indian blockbuster Lagaan
. Tanović was presented the Oscar by John Travolta
and Sharon Stone
. Briefly after, Tanović thanked everyone who worked with him on the film and supported its creation. He ended his acceptance speech by saying, "This is for my country".
In total, No Man's Land won 42 awards, including the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, the European Film Academy
Award for Best Screenplay, the César Award for Best Debut
in 2002 and the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film
in 2001.
2001 in film
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
tragic war drama
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
that is set in the midst of the Bosnian war. The film is a parable
Parable
A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or a normative principle. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human...
and marked the debut of Bosnian
Bosnians
Bosnians are people who reside in, or come from, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the modern state definition a Bosnian can be anyone who holds citizenship of the state. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the constituent ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs and...
writer and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Danis Tanović
Danis Tanovic
Danis Tanović is a Bosnian film director and screenwriter.Tanović is best known for having directed and written the script for the 2001 Bosnian movie No Man's Land which won an Academy Award. He was a member of the jury at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.-Biography:Danis Tanović was born in the...
. It is a co-production among companies in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia 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...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, France, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Plot
Two wounded soldiers, a BosniakBosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
(Čiki, portrayed by Branko Đurić) and a Bosnian Serb (Nino, portrayed by Rene Bitorajac
Rene Bitorajac
Rene Bitorajac is a Croatian actor. He appeared in a number of Croatian and Bosnian films since the 1980s. Most notably, he starred in the 2001 Academy Award-winning Bosnian film No Man's Land...
) are caught between their lines in the no man's land
No man's land
No man's land is a term for land that is unoccupied or is under dispute between parties that leave it unoccupied due to fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dumping ground for refuse between fiefdoms...
, in a struggle for survival. The two soldiers confront each other in a trench, where they wait for dark. They trade insults and even find some common ground. Confounding the situation is another wounded Bosniak soldier (Cera, portrayed by Filip Šovagović
Filip Šovagovic
Filip Šovagović is a Croatian actor, playwright and journalist.At first known simply as the son of renowned Croatian actor Fabijan Šovagović borned in Ladimirevci, Filip Šovagović has appeared in many films and TV shows in the last decade and a half, gradually building a reputation of his own.His...
) who wakes from unconsciousness. A land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
had been buried beneath him by the Bosnian Serbs; should he make any move, it would be fatal.
A French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
sergeant (Marchand, portrayed by Georges Siatidis), of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Protection Force (UNPROFOR), gets involved in effort to help the three trapped soldiers, despite initial orders to the contrary by high command. UNPROFOR's mission in Bosnia was to guard the humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
convoys, to remain neutral and act as a mere bystander. Luckily, an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
reporter arrives on scene, bringing media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
pressure to bear that moves the United Nations high command to swing into action to try to save the soldiers.
A row between the stressed out and fatigued Čiki and Nino gradually escalates even after being rescued. Eventually, Čiki shoots Nino and is in turn shot by a Peacekeeper. After this confrontation, it is found that the mine cannot be defused. The UNPROFOR high command tries to save face: they lie, saying that Cera has been saved and they leave the area, along with the reporters and everyone else.
In reality, Cera is left alone and desolate in the trenches, still immobilized by the mine. Meanwhile, the UNPROFOR commander has arranged false information to be passed to both Bosnian and Serb troops, to make them believe their enemies will be trying to reoccupy the trench at night (which each side would try to counter with an artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
barrage that presumably will kill Cera and obliterate the evidence).
Awards
- Best Foreign Language FilmAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language FilmThe Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
, 2002 74th Academy Awards74th Academy AwardsThe 74th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2001 and took place March 24, 2002, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. It was the first ceremony to take place... - Best Foreign Language FilmGolden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language FilmThe Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the awards presented at the Golden Globes, an American film awards ceremony.Until 1986, it was known as the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film, meaning that any non-American film could be honoured...
, 2001 Golden Globe Awards - Best ScreenplayBest Screenplay Award (Cannes Film Festival)The Best Screenplay Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival...
, 2001 Cannes Film Festival2001 Cannes Film FestivalThe 2001 Cannes Film Festival started on May 14 and ran until May 25. The Palme d'Or went to the Italian film The Son's Room by Nanni Moretti.-Jury:* Liv Ullmann, President * Mimmo Calopresti * Charlotte Gainsbourg...
No Man's Land won Prix du scénario at the Cannes Film Festival
2001 Cannes Film Festival
The 2001 Cannes Film Festival started on May 14 and ran until May 25. The Palme d'Or went to the Italian film The Son's Room by Nanni Moretti.-Jury:* Liv Ullmann, President * Mimmo Calopresti * Charlotte Gainsbourg...
, followed by numerous awards, including the Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
in 2001, while in competition with French Amélie
Amélie
Amélie is a 2001 romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant, the film is a whimsical depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre...
and the Indian blockbuster Lagaan
Lagaan
Lagaan is a 2001 Bollywood sports film written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. Aamir Khan, who was also the producer for the film, stars with Gracy Singh in the lead roles; British actors Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne play the supporting roles...
. Tanović was presented the Oscar by John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
and Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone
Sharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
. Briefly after, Tanović thanked everyone who worked with him on the film and supported its creation. He ended his acceptance speech by saying, "This is for my country".
In total, No Man's Land won 42 awards, including the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, the European Film Academy
European Film Academy
The European Film Academy is an initiative of a group of European filmmakers who came together in Berlin on the occasion of the first presentation of the European Film Awards in November 1988.- European Film Academy :...
Award for Best Screenplay, the César Award for Best Debut
César Award for Best Debut
The César Award for Best Debut was an award given out at the annual César Awards between 1982 and 1999...
in 2002 and the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the awards presented at the Golden Globes, an American film awards ceremony.Until 1986, it was known as the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film, meaning that any non-American film could be honoured...
in 2001.
Cast and roles
- Branko Đurić - Čiki
- Rene BitorajacRene BitorajacRene Bitorajac is a Croatian actor. He appeared in a number of Croatian and Bosnian films since the 1980s. Most notably, he starred in the 2001 Academy Award-winning Bosnian film No Man's Land...
- Nino - Filip ŠovagovićFilip ŠovagovicFilip Šovagović is a Croatian actor, playwright and journalist.At first known simply as the son of renowned Croatian actor Fabijan Šovagović borned in Ladimirevci, Filip Šovagović has appeared in many films and TV shows in the last decade and a half, gradually building a reputation of his own.His...
- Cera - Georges Siatidis - Sergeant Marchand
- Serge-Henri Valcke - Captain Dubois
- Sacha Kremer - Michel
- Alain Eloy - Pierre
- Mustafa NadarevićMustafa NadarevicMustafa Nadarević is a Bosnian actor and comedian. He has studied at the Academy of Drama and Arts in Zagreb....
- Old Bosnian Serbian soldier - Bogdan DiklićBogdan DiklicBogdan Diklić is a Serbian actor and star of over one hundred Yugoslavian movies and television series.He and Goran Marković made 10 movies....
- Bosnian Serbian officer - Simon CallowSimon CallowSimon Phillip Hugh Callow, CBE is an English actor, writer and theatre director. He is also currently a judge on Popstar to Operastar.-Early years:...
- Colonel Soft - Katrin CartlidgeKatrin CartlidgeKatrin Cartlidge was an English actress. She first appeared on screen as Lucy Collins in the Liverpool soap opera Brookside from 1982 to 1988 and later became well known for her film work with directors such as Mike Leigh and Lars von Trier.- Biography :Cartlidge was born in London to an English...
- Jane Livingstone, journalist - Tanja RibičTanja RibicTanja Ribič is a Slovenian actress and a singer. She represented Slovenia at Eurovision Song Contest 1997 with the song "Zbudi se", which finished 10th. She is married to actor and director Branko Đurić....
- Martha - Branko Zavrsan - German deminerDeminingDemining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
- Đuro Utješanović - Bosniak guide
- Mirza Tanović - Bosniak officer
- Boro StjepanovićBoro StjepanovicBorislav "Boro" Stjepanović born May 8, 1946 in Vareš) is a Serbian actor and director. He played in over 50 films, most notably in Sjećaš li se Dolly Bell, Ko to tamo peva, Čudo neviđeno, Miris dunja, Kuduz, Gluvi barut and First Class Thieves...
- Bosniak soldier - Almir Kurt - Bosniak soldier
- Ratko Ristić - Bosniak soldier
- Peter Sedmak - Bosniak soldier
- Saša Petrović - Bosniak soldier (credited as Aleksandar Petrović)
- Boris Cindrić - Miralem
- Danijel Smon - Bosnian Serbian officer #2
- Peter Prikratki - Bosnian Serbian soldier
- Primož Ranik - Cameraman
- Jure Plesec - Mark
- Gordon Wilson - John
- Maëlys De Rudder - Olivia
- Alan Fairairn - Bill
- Michel Obenga - UNPROFOR soldier
- Rok Strehovec - UNPROFOR soldier
- Zvone Hribar - Journalist
- Ales Valic - Journalist
- Fred M. Liss - Journalist
- Franc Jakob Rac - Journalist
- Predrag Brestovac - Rambo
- Tadej Troha - Young Bosniak soldier
- Primož Petkovsek - Serbian lieutenant (barricade)
- Janez Habic - Bosnian Serbian soldier (barricade)
- Matej Bizjak - Boy accordionist
- Marinko Prga - Bosnian Serbian soldier
- Darjan Gorela - Bosnian Serbian soldier
- Srečko Dzumber - Bosnian Serbian soldier
- Uroš Tatomir - Bosnian Serbian sergeant
- Matej Recer - Bosniak officer (barricade)
- Matija Bulatovic - Bosniak soldier (barricade)
- Uros Furst - Bosniak soldier (barricade)
- Radovan KaradžićRadovan KaradžicRadovan Karadžić is a former Bosnian Serb politician. He is detained in the United Nations Detention Unit of Scheveningen, accused of war crimes committed against Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats during the Siege of Sarajevo, as well as ordering the Srebrenica massacre.Educated as a...
- Himself (with François Mitterrand) (archive footage) (uncredited) - François MitterrandFrançois MitterrandFrançois Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
- Himself (with Karadžić) (archive footage) (uncredited)
See also
- Bosnian WarBosnian WarThe Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
- Hell in the PacificHell in the PacificHell in the Pacific is a 1968 World War II film starring Lee Marvin and Toshirō Mifune, the only two actors in the entire film. It was directed by John Boorman....
- Joyeux Noël
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