Quo Vadis, Aida?

Quo Vadis, Aida?
Bosnia-Herzegovina, France,Austria, Romania, Netherlands,Germany, Poland, Norway,Turkey | 2020 | 103’ | Colour | Bosnian, English, Dutch | English subtitle | Group: B
Director: Jasmila Žbanić

Sarajevo-born director Jasmila Zbanic goes straight to the heart of her country’s enduring pain by examining, through the eyes of interpreter Aida (a compelling Jasna Duricic), one of the most grievous events in modern history – the massacre of more than 8,000 Bosniak civilians, most of them men and boys, in the village of Srebrenica as the world, and the UN, watched on and still let it happen. The question of how this could take place in the heart of Europe is fully answered here. It could happen to anyone, says Zbanic. And if it did, Quo Vadis? As Aida, with her privileged access, begins to realise the extent of what is happening, her thoughts go to her own family, her mother’s instinct to the fore. This is gripping cinema which brings the audience into the centre of events which are still controversial 25 years later with an unforgettable, haunting lead performance.

FIONNUALA HALLIGAN

Bosnia, July 11th 1995. The war in the Balkans rages on. Aida is a translator for the United Nations (UN) in the small town of Srebrenica. When the Serbian army takes over the town, her family is among the thousands of citizens looking for shelter in the UN camp just outside the town. As an insider to the negotiations between the UN and invading forces, Aida has access to crucial information that she needs to interpret. But can she use that information to save her husband and two sons? And will the UN soldiers help her?

Born in Sarajevo in 1974, Jasmila is a graduate of her native city’s Academy of Dramatic Arts, Theatre and Film Directing Department. Her feature debut Grbavica won the 2006 Berlinale Golden Bear and was nominated for Best film and Best actress at the European Film Awards. Her second film On The Path (2010) was also selected for competition at Berlin. Her other features include For Those Who Can Tell No Tales (2013) and Love Island (2014) ; Quo Vadis, Aida? Had its world premiere in competition in Venice in September this year and went on to play Toronto. It is Bosnia-Herzegovina’s official selection for the international film Academy Award.