Chapter 2
Underground Bridges: Tunnels in the Films of Emir Kusturica Underground (1995) and Life Is a Miracle (2004)
Dennis Browne
Emir Kusturica, in his two films about the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, Underground and Life is a Miracle, moves the action underground into sewers, cellars, railroad tunnels, and fantastic subterranean labyrinths. These subsurface areas emphasize transition and transformation. As characters traverse Kusturica’s underground bridges, they experience not only border crossings of a physical and political nature, but those that shape and transform both individual and communal identities. In Life Is a Miracle they are also incorporated into the technical aspects of the film’s photography, while in Underground they offer different visions of the Yugoslav idea.
Films by Emir Kusturica discussed in Chapter 2:
Do You Remember Dolly Bell. Sutejska Film Sarajevo/TV Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, 1981.
When Father Was Away On Business. Forum Film, Yugoslavia, 1985.
Time of the Gypsies. Forum Sarajevo,/TV Sarajevo/Smart Egg, Yugoslavia, 1988.
Underground. CiBY 2000/Pandora/Novofilm, France/Germany/Hungary, 1995.
Black Cat, White Cat. CiBY 2000/Pandora/Komuna/France2 Cinema,
France/Germany/Yugoslavia, 1998.
Life Is a Miracle. Les Films Alain Sarde/Rasta, France/Italy/Serbia, 2004.
Promise Me This. Fidélité, Serbia/France, 2007.
Films by Emir Kusturica discussed in Chapter 2:
Do You Remember Dolly Bell. Sutejska Film Sarajevo/TV Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, 1981.
When Father Was Away On Business. Forum Film, Yugoslavia, 1985.
Time of the Gypsies. Forum Sarajevo,/TV Sarajevo/Smart Egg, Yugoslavia, 1988.
Underground. CiBY 2000/Pandora/Novofilm, France/Germany/Hungary, 1995.
Black Cat, White Cat. CiBY 2000/Pandora/Komuna/France2 Cinema,
France/Germany/Yugoslavia, 1998.
Life Is a Miracle. Les Films Alain Sarde/Rasta, France/Italy/Serbia, 2004.
Promise Me This. Fidélité, Serbia/France, 2007.
Trailer of the film Underground (Source: YouTube)
About the author:
Dennis Browne is an Associate Professor of Russian at Bates College. He received his Ph.D. in Slavic Linguistics from the University of Virginia. At Bates College, he teaches Russian language, film and culture courses, and seminars on Europe and the Balkans. He has published articles and reviews on language teaching, Russian rock music, and is co-author of a book on translation and stylistics. He has also written about music and film from the western Balkans, and is currently examining the works of controversial filmmaker Emir Kusturica.
Dennis Browne's webpage
Dennis Browne is an Associate Professor of Russian at Bates College. He received his Ph.D. in Slavic Linguistics from the University of Virginia. At Bates College, he teaches Russian language, film and culture courses, and seminars on Europe and the Balkans. He has published articles and reviews on language teaching, Russian rock music, and is co-author of a book on translation and stylistics. He has also written about music and film from the western Balkans, and is currently examining the works of controversial filmmaker Emir Kusturica.
Dennis Browne's webpage