A Serbian Film.

[Boba Fett]

To quote the illustrious Chris Sax, "I just... I can't."

[stypee]

I must say that I've been on the fence about seeing this film but after reading the very well written and insightful review, I feel as if I should see it... Just going to wait for the initail release here in the states...

[ppritchard]

I must say that I've been on the fence about seeing this film but after reading the very well written and insightful review, I feel as if I should see it... Just going to wait for the initail release here in the states...

Thanks for the kind words on the review.

I've been keeping an eye out for info on a US release, and dug up an article which suggests Invincible Pictures is looking to release A Serbian Film in the US, in its uncut form, theatrically; still can't find anything concrete on a DVD release.

I'll be honest, I had a great deal of trepidation about buying the movie, and even once I'd loaded it into my player, I was fully prepared to turn it off if it all got too much. But once the film started, the thought never crossed my mind. In fact, most people will likely build the film up in their minds to be worse than it actually is. What really has hit me in the week or so since last seeing the film, is how angry a piece of film making it really is.

If you're intrigued enough to see it, then go for it. I've certainly not been traumatized or scarred by it. A big part of writing the review was to offer an non-sensationalist account of the film. So many write-ups seemed to focus on the disturbing imagery, and end with something like, "I can handle this kind of film, but you can't so avoid at all costs." Hopefully this came across.

That being said, it's no coincidence that a lock was put on my DVD closet the day I purchased the DVD.

[stypee]

All I know about the film is what I've read and of course the trailer. I've been told there is another film made by Syrbien filmmakers that is supposed to go further than A SYRBIEN FILM. I forgot the title,, it has something to do with a group of people who completely run out of money, I think their a bunch of artists, so they decide to go on some sort of weird tour and are paid to perform really disturbing sex acts? It may have been reviewed here, I honestly don't remember.

I do have to ask in regards to A SERBIAN FILM, what is the deal with the infamous child birth scene? I've read many reviews and nobody really says what happens - does it really go "there?" and how explicit is it? If it's what I'm lead to believe it is than I'm not quite sure it's something I'm comfortable wanting to experience.. Of course the cut you saw was trimmed down so I'm assuming it was all implied?

[ppritchard]

I think the other film you mention is The Life and Death of a Porno Gang.

As for the child birth sequence in A Serbian Film (I guess I should give a spoiler warning...), the BBFC cut shows the birth in a reasonable amount of detail (i.e. baby crowning, and so on). How much you actually see after that depends entirely whether the version you see is cut or uncut.

The BBFC cut is 99% focused on the reactions of Milos and Vukmir, with only one further shot of the film they are viewing, which shows the rapist from behind from around shoulder level-there is no further sight of the child. One thing not cut is the sound-which I'm sure you can appreciate is horrific.

The uncut version-so I'm lead to believe from reading up on the cuts made by the BBFC-is a little more graphic, and does contain a shot-again from behind-where the newborn is slightly in shot as the rapist is seen committing the act. By all accounts the child is clearly CGI, but still, I'm not certain I'd be comfortable with that.

It's certainly a difficult film to recommend to people, mostly due to that one scene. I completely understand people not wanting to experience it, yet still stand by my view that it is a quite remarkable film, which unlike, say, I Spit On Your Grave, has a serious message behind the violence; albeit a message that some will not find due to the shocking visuals on display.