Remake (2003 film)

Remake is a 2003 Bosnian war film directed by Dino Mustafić, produced by Enes Cviko and Martine de Clermont-Tonnerre. The film is a Turkish-French co-production.

For other uses, see Remake (disambiguation).
Remake
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDino Mustafić
Produced byEnes Cviko
Martine de Clermont-Tonnerre
Written byZlatko Topčić
StarringErmin Bravo
Aleksandar Seksan
Ermin Sijamija
Dejan Aćimović
Lucija Šerbedžija
Emir Hadžihafizbegović
Miraj Grbić
François Berléand
Évelyne Bouix
Music byAdi Lukovac
CinematographyMustafa Mustafić
Edited byAndrija Zafranović
Production
company
Forum
MACT Productions (Paris)
Turkish Radio & Television (TRT)
Distributed byForum
Terra Entertainment Inc. (US)
Release date
23 January 2003 (Netherlands) (International Film Festival Rotterdam)
21 August 2004 (US) (Wine Country Film Festival)
6 August 2007 (Hungary) (TV premiere)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryBosnia-Herzegovina
France
Turkey
LanguageBosnian
Croatian
Serbian
French
English
Budget$20 million
Box office$168.7 million

The film stars Ermin Bravo, Aleksandar Seksan, Ermin Sijamija, Dejan Aćimović, Lucija Šerbedžija, Emir Hadžihafizbegović, Miraj Grbić, François Berléand, Évelyne Bouix, and was written by Zlatko Topčić (based on incidents which occurred in his life).

Remake tells the parallel coming-of-age stories of a father living in Sarajevo during World War II and his son living through the Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War.[1][2]

The film premiered at the 32nd International Film Festival Rotterdam[3][4] on January 23, 2003. The film's US premiere was at the 2004 Wine Country Film Festival (San Francisco), where it won three awards: Best First Feature, Best Actor (Ermin Bravo) and Award for Peace and Cultural Understanding. It won a Special Mention Award at the 53rd Berlin International Film Festival.[5]

It was critically praised and was a commercial success, grossing $168.7 million worldwide against a production budget of $20 million.

Plot and theme

In the early 1990s, Tarik is a young Sarajevan just starting out as a writer. Before the onset of war in the former Yugoslavia, he sends a screenplay to a literary competition in France.

In a parallel plot, we see the dramatization of his script: a true story of his father Ahmed Karaga, who is unprepared for the outbreak of World War II and ends up in a concentration camp, but manages to survive. In the present plot, Ahmed's drama is almost identically replayed in the fate of Tarik. Only the era and the conditions of suffering have changed.

In Sarajevo, Tarik is captured by the Serbian Army and is subjected to the cruel conditions of a labour camp, which differs little from a concentration camp. After an unsuccessful attempt to escape, a famous French film producer helps exchange Tarik for another prisoner and ensures transportation to Paris.

There, where few know of the great tragedy that has struck Bosnia, he meets one of his tormentors.

The film explores the theme of revenge versus forgiveness, as well as the idea that history repeats itself and that those who do not learn from it are doomed to repeat it.

Remake is also a coming-of-age drama, with scenes in which Ahmed and Tarik go out with their friends, have fun, fall in love.

Cast and characters
  • Ermin Bravo as Tarik Karaga
  • Aleksandar Seksan as Miro Jovanović, Tarik's best friend
  • Miralem Zupčević as Ahmed Karaga, Tarik's father
  • Ermin Sijamija portrays the younger version of Ahmed
  • Dejan Aćimović as Duke Mišo, one of the commanders of the local Serbian forces and Tarik's neighbor
  • Lucija Šerbedžija as Eva Bebek, Ahmed girlfriend from his youth
  • Slaven Knezović as Marko Kalaba, Ahmed's friend
  • Helena Minić as Alma Dizdarević, Tarik's girlfriend
  • Jasna Diklić as Desa Jovanović, Miro's mother
  • Zijah Sokolović as Mirsad Alihodžić "Hodža", a Bosnian refugee in France, war profiteer
  • François Berléand as Francois-Charles Leconte, producer
  • Évelyne Bouix as Katrin Leconte, producer's wife
  • Haris Begović as Adis Dizdarević, Alma's younger brother
  • Izudin Bajrović as Jovo, Serbian soldier
  • Emir Hadžihafizbegović as Željko, Serbian guard
  • Admir Glamočak as an interrogator, investigator, Ustasha
  • Mario Drmać as Remzo, a singer from the camp
  • Miraj Grbić as Mitar, Serbian guard
  • Mirsad Tuka as Vaso, Serbian soldier
  • Mirza Tanović as French UN officer
  • Rade Čolović as Zoka, Serbian guard
  • Jasmin Mekić as Miki, Serbian soldier
  • Mirvad Kurić as Salko, captive
  • Tahir Nikšić as Vlado, captive
  • Nakib Abdagić as Zijo Bajrić, captive
  • Edhem Husić as Meho Mizić, captive
  • Božo Bunjevac as Avdo Ligata, captive
  • Vlado Kerošević as major
  • Alen Muratović as Džemo, illegal
  • Tatjana Šojić as announcer
  • Vlado Jokanović as clergyman
  • Bojan Trišić as gutterman
  • Aldin Zulić as Don Dragiša de la Kuvelja
  • Boris Balta as Ustasha

Production

Remake is the first feature film directed by Dino Mustafić[6] and the first written by Zlatko Topčić.[7] Mustafić said in an interview: "We need a cathartic films that talk about our recent past. They are just as important as a testimony to the evil and stupidity of war does not happen again."[8] Topčić said: "The script is devoid of ideological and daily political tinge. This movie wants to be a movie of love, not hate."[9]

The film's script was published like a book in 2002.

Filming

Filming took place in Paris, Sarajevo and many other locations. Principal photography began in 2001.

Release

The film was released worldwide on January 23, 2003, by Forum and Terra Entertainment Inc. (US). It was released to cinemas throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina on February 22, 2003.[10]

Music

Musician Adi Lukovac and singer Emina Zečaj collaborated on the soundtrack for the film (Remake - soundtrack).[11]

Accolades
List of accolades
Film Festival Year of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Berlin International Film Festival 2003 Special Mention Remake Won
Festival du Film de Paris 2003 Grand Prix Remake Nominated
International Film Festival Rotterdam 2003 Tiger Award Remake Nominated
Filmfest München 2003 "One Future Prize" - Honorable Mention Remake Won
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2003 East of West Award Remake Nominated
International Istanbul Film Festival 2003 Golden Tulip Remake Nominated
Wine Country Film Festival 2004 Award for Peace and Cultural Understanding Remake Won
Best First Feature Dino Mustafić Won
Best Actor Ermin Bravo Won

Reception

Box office

Remake was a box office hit worldwide. It is the most watched film in its native country ever,[12] the highest-grossing film, from Southeast Europe, of all time and one of the highest-grossing foreign language films in the United States, making $41.9 million there. It grossed $168.7 million worldwide against a production budget of $20 million.

Critical response

The film garnered positive reviews.[13] Ronald Holloway of Kino-German Film & International Reports gave the film high praise and wrote that "Remake should not be missed". Also, he called it "a major film event of 2003".[14]

Deborah Young gave a positive review in Variety, remarking that the "film strongly suggests the cycle of violence is endless".[15] Stephen Dalton, from The Hollywood Reporter, selected Remake in list "Best 100 Movies Ever Made" (87th place).[16] Critics considered that it is "one of the most phenomenal films in recent world cinema" and mark it as "a masterpiece".

The film's world premiere was at the 32nd International Film Festival Rotterdam, where a critic said that Remake is a "very brave film, describing the situation as it was".[17] It was the most watched film of the festival and received a 20 minute standing ovation.[18]

Critics specifically praised a cult scene in which actor Mario Drmać sings a traditional folk song Il' je vedro, il' oblačno.[19][20] On Filmski.net, the film has a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars.[21] MukMag rated Remake as one of the best films of ex-YU cinema.[22]

International festival circuit

The film was screened at over 100 international film festivals around the world, including the Festival du Film de Paris, New York Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Locarno Festival, Warsaw International Film Festival,[23] International Film Festival Rotterdam, Berlin International Film Festival, Rome Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Gothenburg Film Festival, FEST (Belgrade), Salerno International Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Valencia International Film Festival Cinema Jove, Toronto International Film Festival, Sofia International Film Festival, Transilvania International Film Festival, São Paulo International Film Festival, Houston Cinema Arts Festival (Texas),[24] Monaco International Film Festival, International Istanbul Film Festival,[25][26] Montreal World Film Festival, Filmfest München, Prague International Film Festival - Febiofest, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Wine Country Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival (Ohio),[2] Sarajevo Film Festival, and many other.

It was screened at festivals in the Netherlands, Poland,[27] Croatia, Serbia, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada, Bulgaria, Romania, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Turkey, Spain, Monaco, Germany, the Czech Republic[1] and the United States. It was also premiered on TV in the United States and Hungary.

Banned in Republika Srpska

Given national divisions over the Bosnian War, the film generated considerable political controversy in the entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, and was banned there (as well as In the Land of Blood and Honey, The Hunting Party, Behind Enemy Lines, Welcome to Sarajevo, Grbavica), which increased the film's popularity and profit at the worldwide box office.[28] It has, however, been shown in Serbia itself.

"In front of a fool, it's smart to be crazy."
—Ahmed Karaga (old)
"In this country always the same, what happened, it will be, what was done before, will be done in the future, there is no end to it."
—Ahmed Karaga (old)
"When you stand on the track, the road is both down and up, one, the same road. Paradox."
—Interrogator, investigator
gollark: * ever over
gollark: If you aren't selecting for incredibly terrible people somehow, false allegations of whatever do not seem like a high probability enough outcome to be worth avoiding literally half of everyone ever.
gollark: I see.
gollark: ???
gollark: If the issue is bizarre school policy on food, did you consider running an illicit food smuggling ring?

See also

References
  1. "KVIFF programme - Remake". kviff.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  2. "CIFF: "Remake"". clevelandfilm.org. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  3. "IFFR: "Remake"". iffr.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  4. "32. Internacionalni Film Festival Rotterdam". sarajevo-X.com. 22 January 2003. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  5. "Bh. filmovi: Najkvalitetniji domaći proizvod u svijetu". radiosarajevo.ba. 24 March 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  6. "Rađa se najintrigantnija kinematografija jugoistočne Europe". arhiva.nacional.hr. 25 September 2002. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  7. "Družinsko prekletstvo: Zlatko Topčić, scenarist filma "Remake"". mladina.si. 19 November 2002. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  8. "BH. FILM DANAS". bhfilm.ba. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  9. "PRVA KLAPA BIH FILMA "REMAKE"". infobih.com. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  10. "Održana sarajevska premijera REMAKE-a". sarajevo-X.com. 23 February 2003. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  11. "Priča i pjeva u emisiji Četvrtkom o kulturi". radiosarajevo.ba. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  12. "U Forumovim kinima u Sarajevu najgledaniji "Remake"". sarajevo-X.com. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  13. "REMAKE premijera u Sarajevu 22/02/2003". sarajevo-X.com. 19 February 2003. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  14. "REVIEW: Remake, a film from Sarajevo by Dino Mustafić". kino-germanfilm.de. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  15. "Review: "Remake"". variety.com. 18 February 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  16. "Best 100 Movies Ever Made - The Hollywood Reporter". imdb.com. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  17. "Rotterdam Film Festival: REMAKE će dobiti nagradu publike!?". sarajevo-X.com. 25 January 2003. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  18. "Dino Mustafić novo je veliko ime evropske kinematografije: Njegov film "Remake" najgledaniji je u Rotterdamu". infobiro.ba. 30 January 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  19. "VIDEO: Muzika koja je obilježila najveća bh. filmska ostvarenja". brzevijesti.ba. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  20. "Pjesma dana: Mario Drmać - Il' je Vedro, il' oblačno". radiosarajevo.ba. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  21. "Remake". filmski.net. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  22. "Najbolji filmovi ex yu kinematografije". mukmag.com. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  23. "WFF: "Remake"". wff.pl. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  24. "REMAKE ide u Sofiju, Salerno, Pariz, Houston". klix.ba. 7 February 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  25. "Remake na filmskom festivalu u Istanbulu". sarajevo-X.com. 16 April 2003. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  26. ""Remake" se takmiči za Grand Prix". sarajevo-X.com. 27 April 2003. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  27. "WFF: "Remake"". wff.pl. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  28. "10 zabranjenih filmova koje publika u RS ne smije gledati". depo.ba. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
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