My Beautiful Country

My Beautiful Country (Die Brücke am Ibar), 2012

Germany, Blu-ray, Color, 88’, Serbian/ Croatian

Director:Michaela Kezele

Cast:Zrinka Cvitešić, Mišel Matičević, Andrija Nikčević, Miloš Mesarović

Kosovo 1999… While the war between Serbians and Albanians rages, Danica lives in poverty with her two sons Vlado and Danilo in a neighborhood mostly inhabited by Serbs. The father of her sons has been killed by Albanians. Since that day Danilo has not spoken a single word. Vlado keeps running away from school and avoids contact with others. Despite all these circumstances and events the family strives to lead a normal life. But one day a seriously injured soldier knocks on their door. Ramiz is a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army and is running from the Serbian militia. He seeks shelter in Danica’s home. Though she is aware that she will be putting her children’s and her own life in danger Danica accepts to hide Ramiz. Screened at the Flying Broom International Women’s Film Festival in Ankara last month, “My Beautiful Country” won the Best Film and Audience Awards at the Film Festival Turkey/Germany in Nuremberg.