Vukovar

REVIEW
A disturbing glimpse into the psyche of a war-ravaged nation, Vukovar uses its Romeo and Juliet tale (he's a Serb, she's a Croat) of star-crossed lovers to underscore the tragedy of the Yugoslavian conflict. Filmed in the all-but-destroyed city of Vukovar during the war in 1993, the film certainly has an authentic atmosphere to tell the story of a newly married couple whose happy union is disrupted by civil war. Having such a strong antiwar message, the film occasionally wanders into the heavy-handed arena, but its voice is articulate and director Draskovic's images are overwhelming. The performances are natural without overindulgence, though Jokovic as the young bride is simply stunning. (Serco-Croatian with English subtitles)