A review by Sonia McCloud

A very powerful and overwhelming film, that captured the horror of war and religious persecution very accurately and so precisely; I was mesmerised and lived the experience, the fear, and every heart-thumping moment. 

A very powerful and overwhelming film

It is often said that ‘History repeats itself,’ and when the blight and evil of war and religious persecution came to Bosnia fifty years later it was the turn of the Jewish woman to save the life of her Muslim friend and her family.  

Writer and director Sabina Vajraca has created a masterpiece that captures the true essence of those most harrowing events; Sabina herself a refugee from war-torn Bosnia has very successfully infused that experience into the film and given it a depth and life that can only have come from one who has endured such tragic events.

Writer and director Sabina Vajraca has created a masterpiece

Alen Alilovic’s cinematography captures every nuance of the events, the interweaving of monochrome and subtle colour to depict horror and compassion is wonderful and further lifts the overall level of the film.

I must also make a mention of the costumes designed by Adisa Vatres, they were period correct for world war II and fifty years apart the costumes were also period correct for circa 1993.

True heroes are ordinary, everyday people who in times of conflict put their lives on hold and place humanity first.

True heroes are ordinary, everyday people who in times of conflict put their lives on hold and place humanity first.

This is not a film to be missed be sure to check it out at Cleveland International Film Festival.