Balkans Express

Balkans Express is a vibrant Yugoslavian film directed by Branko Baletic, set against the backdrop of World War II. This movie, released in 1983, uses humor and wit to present the grim reality of war, demonstrating the resilience and ingenuity of ordinary individuals during extraordinary times. Balkans Express brims with memorable performances and a unique storytelling style that effectively blends comedy with the harsh truths of warfare.

Set in the early 1940s, Balkans Express chronicles the life of Kosta, an engagingly roguish jazz musician turned opportunist, portrayed meticulously by Dragan Nikolic, one of the most adored Serbian actors. Kosta, swaying along with the tide of war, finds himself thrust into a circuitous existence venturing into the world of smuggling. He takes full advantage of the chaos encircling him to conduct business on both sides of the law. The movie follows Kosta's life which swiftly oscillates between engaging in black market sales and performing with his jazz band in local taverns.

As the film progresses, Kosta's life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes smitten with a stunning beauty, Lela, played by Tanja Boskovic. Things get further complicated when Lela's brother, Mita, recruits Kosta into the National Liberation Movement. Throughout the movie, Kosta is shown struggling between his self-interests and his gradually developing patriotic instincts.

The supporting characters in the film include Gorica Popovic as the dainty and disoriented ballerina Vera, Olivera Markovic as the committed freedom fighter Mama, and Bata Zivojinovic as the imposing Nazi official Ebner. Together, these colorful characters inject the movie with laughter, tears, thrills, and much more.

Director Branko Baletic presents the Balkans’ war-torn landscape with much finesse, framing the realities of war within a fast-paced, exhilarating narrative that often balances on the knife's edge of satire and grim reality. The intricate details of wartime black market operations and the culture of corruption seeping into everyday life are effortlessly woven into the fabric of the narrative.

However, Balkans Express is not just about war. It is about people and their tryst with their destineties during overwhelming circumstances. There’s a contemplative undercurrent that strongly brings out the predicament of ordinary people trying to uphold their faith, ideals, and love while grappling with their survival instincts. Balkans Express is as much about war as it is about the common people, refracted through the prism of humor and satire.

What makes the movie intriguing is the delightful humor that gushes through the narrative, often unexpected but always pleasurable. The film balances the severity of the situation with laughter, reducing the harshness and allowing the viewers to connect with the characters in a very human way. The situational humor serves a greater purpose, veiling the bitter truths of the war-torn Balkans in a narrative that is palatable and poignant.

The cinematography by Milivoje Milivojevic is commendable, capturing the stark beauty of the war-ravaged landscapes, vibrancy of local taverns, and the clandestine activities in visually gorgeous frames. The film is scored by Goran Bregovic, whose unique fusion of traditional Balkan music with the pulsing energy of jazz breathes life into the narrative and deeply complements the mood of the overall film.

Balkans Express is an intense ride under the guise of a light-hearted wartime comedy. It's a quintessential anti-war film that uses humor as a tool to project the anxieties, chaos, and absurdities of war. The movie goes beyond the conventional portrayal of war and instead offers a more personal, subjective viewpoint.

This classic Yugoslavian film is a must-watch for those who appreciate nuanced narratives, compelling performances, lush cinematography, and an original score that underpin a survivalists tale under the bleakest of circumstances—war. Balkans Express is a fantastic showcase of Serbian cinema that provides both entertainment and reflection in equal parts.