"Na putu" tells the story of young Bosnian-Muslim couple, Luna and Amar, living in post-war Sarajevo, and planning on having a baby. Their idyll is marred: the young man is traumatised from his experiences in the war, and from losing his soldier brother. He turns to alcohol, loses his job, but finds another one through a friend. As it turns out he is being recruited by radical (Wahhabite) muslims, and he finally decides to compensate his alcohol problem by becoming a radical -- or, in his view, true -- Muslim. This is unacceptable to Luna, who sees herself as a modern, moderate Muslim, and has no intention of trading her wardrobe in to become a "ninja" -- her laconic name for a Muslim woman fully dressed in a hijab.
The story of "Na putu" is told in a linear fashion. It always holds the attention, and excels at letting us have a peek at the life in present-day Bosnia i Herzegowina. It always remains subtle and plausible and avoids, for example, to portray Amar and his radical Muslim brothers as wide-eyed fanatics and jihaddites; in a way, we understand while he chooses this path for himself, and why Luna seems to choose another one.
The also excels through great acting, amazing cinematography (it's shot on a Red digital video camera by the way, and the picture quality is stunning) and apt direction.
Simple scenes stay in mind. Such as when Luna films Amar with her cell phone while he's sleeping, and then watches the movie on her pillow when he's gone. Or when Amar protests against Luna grabbing his crotch in bed, to show that he is changing from lover to religious hothead.
The story of "Na putu" is told in a linear fashion. It always holds the attention, and excels at letting us have a peek at the life in present-day Bosnia i Herzegowina. It always remains subtle and plausible and avoids, for example, to portray Amar and his radical Muslim brothers as wide-eyed fanatics and jihaddites; in a way, we understand while he chooses this path for himself, and why Luna seems to choose another one.
The also excels through great acting, amazing cinematography (it's shot on a Red digital video camera by the way, and the picture quality is stunning) and apt direction.
Simple scenes stay in mind. Such as when Luna films Amar with her cell phone while he's sleeping, and then watches the movie on her pillow when he's gone. Or when Amar protests against Luna grabbing his crotch in bed, to show that he is changing from lover to religious hothead.