The film is a true masterpiece that has sparked controversy, because of nationalism and pride which are very important in the Balkans. First of all, the movie goes from the perspective of two young people (A Serb man and a Croatian woman) who lived peacefully and very much in love in the city of Vukovar (it lays on the Danube right on the border of Serbia and Croatia) and the two have nothing but love and respect towards each others nations. As the Croatian War of Independence arises, they are split apart. It shows the casualties of wars and how young lives are destroyed because of manipulative politicians and ultra-nationalistic minorities that have a huge impact on the entire society. Yet, the beauty of this movie lays in the details:
1. The love for your homeland (the girl Ana, played by Mirjana Jokovic, refuses to flee Vukovar even though she is pregnant and can easily get hurt)
2. Ana's parents, who are open-minded people who have always gotten along nicely with Serbs (they are Croats) slowly begin to became aggressive and hateful towards Serbia as the sound of bombings and shootings intensifies in the background.
3. They never accused Serbs, nor Croats. That is a very important detail, as that's what differs a war movie and an anti-war movie. They show rape, killings and horrific things done by soldiers and para-military movements never specifying on what side are they fighting.
4. The use of Bajaga's song ''Budjenje ranog proleca'' (The awakening of early spring) is used brilliantly as the camera films a destroyed city.
5. My favorite scene is at the end when Ana and Tomo look at each other from two different buses and the crossroad sign Zagreb (capital of Croatia) and Belgrade (capital of Serbia) is shown alongside the destroyed water tower of Vukovar.
All in all, I strongly recommend to everyone. Especially to people who think that Serbs and Croats alongside other ex Yugoslav nations are flesh eating monsters to watch a realistic story of two ordinary people who's youth and love is shuttered because of a war only profitable politicians wanted!
Review of Vukovar Poste Restante
