As time passes, I start to feel like an old wining geezer with talks how everything used to be so much better in the past. Yet, when it comes to Serbian cinematography, that is an unmistakable fact, no matter how old or young you are. "Una" is a finest example of how a novel can be translated into a deep and meaningful motion picture.
The time is in early 1980s and Yugoslavia is still a firmly communist system with a strong central control which spans to all pores of the society. True, some freedoms are available, even ones which are contradictory to the system, yet taking on them too seriously is a dangerous and risky task. The university community is a center of intellectual exchange, where professor Misel Babic, played by Rade Serbezija, tries to hang on all alone with his liberal ideas, which in many ways defy the inert system. Politically undetermined and self excluded from interest groups, Misel is a constant thorn in the eye of both university's leadership and state security alike. That's when the vice dean decides to invade his private life by engaging a young, intelligent and well situated student Una Vojvodic, played by Sonja Savic.
"Una" is a psychological drama which revolves around the secret romance between Una and professor Babic, it's repercussions, which brings out all the best and worst aspects of academic life in communist Yugoslavia. But beside the excellent narrative background of "Una", there are other aspects which bring this film way above the rest. Unlike most of Yugoslavian production of the time, good director's and editor's work is combined with a pretty decent technical outcome. I guess Kodak Eastman Color was used, which was a rare case at the time. Together with brilliant acting performances of all protagonists, "Una" hits the top 10 of Serbian cinematography so far. Unfortunately, like many other good movies, this one is also unjustly forgotten and put aside due to it's educated approach and lack of shiny glamor. But then again, maybe it's better that way. Only the deserving audience has a chance to see it, and appreciate it properly.
The time is in early 1980s and Yugoslavia is still a firmly communist system with a strong central control which spans to all pores of the society. True, some freedoms are available, even ones which are contradictory to the system, yet taking on them too seriously is a dangerous and risky task. The university community is a center of intellectual exchange, where professor Misel Babic, played by Rade Serbezija, tries to hang on all alone with his liberal ideas, which in many ways defy the inert system. Politically undetermined and self excluded from interest groups, Misel is a constant thorn in the eye of both university's leadership and state security alike. That's when the vice dean decides to invade his private life by engaging a young, intelligent and well situated student Una Vojvodic, played by Sonja Savic.
"Una" is a psychological drama which revolves around the secret romance between Una and professor Babic, it's repercussions, which brings out all the best and worst aspects of academic life in communist Yugoslavia. But beside the excellent narrative background of "Una", there are other aspects which bring this film way above the rest. Unlike most of Yugoslavian production of the time, good director's and editor's work is combined with a pretty decent technical outcome. I guess Kodak Eastman Color was used, which was a rare case at the time. Together with brilliant acting performances of all protagonists, "Una" hits the top 10 of Serbian cinematography so far. Unfortunately, like many other good movies, this one is also unjustly forgotten and put aside due to it's educated approach and lack of shiny glamor. But then again, maybe it's better that way. Only the deserving audience has a chance to see it, and appreciate it properly.