The drama about the Sebrenica genocide ran in the Venice Competition last year. There was also an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
Berlin – It is one of the darkest chapters in recent European history: In the 1995 massacre in Srebrenica, almost 8,000 Bosnians – mostly men – were murdered by Ratko Mladić’s army. The massacres were later classified as genocide.
But how did the atrocities come about at that time? That is what the Berlin-based director Jasmila Žbanić now wants to tell with her harrowing drama “Quo Vadis, Aida?”
Oppressive Moments
The focus is on Aida. She is the mother of two sons and worked as a translator for the United Nations during the Bosnian War. In July 1995 she saw first hand when the situation worsened. While more and more Muslim people from the surrounding areas are fleeing to the United Nations base and camping in front of the gates, the UN soldiers see no responsibility for themselves, but rather cooperate with Mladić – a fatal mistake.
There are oppressive moments when Aida wants to save her own husband, her sons, but also neighbors and acquaintances to the apparently safe camp. She is torn between her job and her conscience. Ultimately, however, she cannot move anything herself, but is dependent on the foreign soldiers. Aida is actually a strong woman, but what should she do when the men around her ignore her?
Genocide in the middle of Europe
“Quo Vadis, Aida?” Is not only a reminder of the massacre that occurred in Europe a good 25 years ago. It also tells what happens when – like some soldiers of the United Nations – one follows orders stubbornly without a human sense of proportion. In a very haunting way, the film makes it clear how important and momentous the decisions of a few people can sometimes be for a great many others.
Director Žbanić already addressed sexual abuse during the Bosnian War with her film “Esma’s Secret” and won the Golden Bear for it at the 2006 Berlinale. She also made it into the competition at the Venice Film Festival last year with “Quo Vadis, Aida?”, A German co-production, and was later nominated for an Oscar for best international film.
Quo vadis, Aida ?, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria et al. 2020, 104 min., FSK from 12, by Jasmila Žbanić, with Jasna Duricic, Izudin Bajrovic, Boris Ler, dpa
