No Man's Land(2001)

Director:Danis Tanovic
Genre:Comedy,Drama,War
Running time:98 minutes
Language:Bosnia(English subtitles )
Best Foreign Language Film(2002), 74th Academy Awards
Best Foreign Language Film(2001 ),Golden Globe Awards
(Best Screenplay)
Plot:Two wounded soldiers, ciki (Bosniak)and Nino(Bosniak Serb) are caught between their lines in the no man's land, in a struggle for survival. The two soldiers confront each other in a trench, where they wait for dark. They trade insults and even find some common ground. Confounding the situation is another wounded Bosniak soldier,Cera who wakes from unconsciousness. A land mine had been buried beneath him by the Bosnian Serbs; should he make any move, it would be fatal.
A French sergeant ,Marchand, of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), gets involved in effort to help the three trapped soldiers. UNPROFOR's mission in Bosnia was to guard the humanitarian aid convoys, to remain neutral and act as a mere bystander. Luckily, an English reporter arrives on scene, bringing media pressure to bear that moves the United Nations high command to swing in to action to try to save the soldiers.
My Review:I watched this movie just for the novel plot.When i read about the situation of 3 soldiers trapped in a trench between two enemy lines,I got curious.Quite an interesting situation.The other fact that this movie won the Academy Award in 2002(remember Lagaan also was contesting)made me see this movie.From the viewer point of view Lagaan was much entertaining.But as a critic this movie is far more superior in terms of plot,acting & direction.Out of 3 soldiers one is lying wounded on a landmine.Other two are from opposite camps.The constant fight between the these two is the highlight of the movie.It ranges from simple verbal arguments to fist fights in between to gun fight.As an audience you at times feel like laughing at their silly,child like fights.The dialogues are funny even though the situation is serious.This is where the direction scores.The movie has not been made with any intention of making it funny.In the second half the story takes an unexpected turn when the news channels come.Infact after watching the second half of this movie my respect for Aamir Khan has gone down a little.The whole concept of "Peepli Live" looks like being liflted from this movie.The whole situation is now in the world news with millions of viewers.The UN has to solve the problem as they are the peace keepers.The only problem is the soldier on the mine.There is no way the mine can be diffused.The bomb disposal specialists also fail to diffuse the mine.Climax is unexpected & abrupt.Overall a good movie & a well deserving for the Oscar.
My Ratings:4/5(watch it for the good world cinema)