Underground
-
Sun 2 May 2004 // 20:00
Mon 3 May 2004 // 20:00
UNDERGROUND
(Emir Kusturica / 1995 / France/Yugoslavia (subtitles) / 167 mins / 15) (Sun 1st-Mon 2nd May / 7.30pm / £4/3)
This epic drama/dark-comedy/romance/documentary/musical is a
story of alliance and betrayal, set against 50 years of convulsive political history in Yugoslavia. Marko and Blacky are profiteering friends caught in the WWII bombings of Belgrade. Having hidden the local neighbourhood under their house, they establish a weapons factory, with Marko dealing with the resistance, providing the food- but also drinking, scrapping, romancing Blacky's sweetheart, and generally having a ball. When the Nazi's are defeated, Marko- finding himself unable to let go of such a good thing- continues the illusion of conflict raging. He rises through the ranks of the communist party, and builds a memorial to his friend Blacky whom he says died in glory. But of course, one can't expect to keep a lid in things forever, as fantasy and reality mesh into a patchwork of shrapnel and subterranean charm.
A Palm D'or winner with whirlwind cinematography, top-notch performances and a bracing score delivered by our hero's brass band entourage, Underground is a dazzling experience; rich in sub-plot and symbolic tragedy. Featuring the familiar farcical surrealism of Kusturica's other classics TIME OF THE GYPSIES and BLACK CAT WHITE CAT; this is a perfect cinema film-with too much going on on screen to be appreciated on the goggle-box.
The screening will include a 10 minute interval.
(Emir Kusturica / 1995 / France/Yugoslavia (subtitles) / 167 mins / 15) (Sun 1st-Mon 2nd May / 7.30pm / £4/3)
This epic drama/dark-comedy/romance/documentary/musical is a
story of alliance and betrayal, set against 50 years of convulsive political history in Yugoslavia. Marko and Blacky are profiteering friends caught in the WWII bombings of Belgrade. Having hidden the local neighbourhood under their house, they establish a weapons factory, with Marko dealing with the resistance, providing the food- but also drinking, scrapping, romancing Blacky's sweetheart, and generally having a ball. When the Nazi's are defeated, Marko- finding himself unable to let go of such a good thing- continues the illusion of conflict raging. He rises through the ranks of the communist party, and builds a memorial to his friend Blacky whom he says died in glory. But of course, one can't expect to keep a lid in things forever, as fantasy and reality mesh into a patchwork of shrapnel and subterranean charm.
A Palm D'or winner with whirlwind cinematography, top-notch performances and a bracing score delivered by our hero's brass band entourage, Underground is a dazzling experience; rich in sub-plot and symbolic tragedy. Featuring the familiar farcical surrealism of Kusturica's other classics TIME OF THE GYPSIES and BLACK CAT WHITE CAT; this is a perfect cinema film-with too much going on on screen to be appreciated on the goggle-box.
The screening will include a 10 minute interval.