Films: Cirkus Columbia

Cirkus Columbia

Bosnia, 2010, 113 Minute Running Time
Additional Countries: Herzegovina
Genre/Subjects: Drama, Family Issues, Historical/Period, Romance, Social Issues
Program: Contemporary World Cinema
Language: Bosnian English Subtitles

DIRECTOR: Danis Tanovic
Producer: Cedomir Kolar, Amra Baksic Camo, Marc Bachet, Mirsad Purivatra
Editor: Petar Markovic
Screenwriter: Danis Tanovic, Ivica Dikic
Cinematographer: Walther Vanden Ende
Principal Cast: Miki Manojlovic, Mira Furlan, Boris Ler, Jelena Stupljann, Milan Strjic, Mario Knezovic

Set in Bosnia in the early 1990s, Danis Tanovic’s Cirkus Columbia portrays a family caught in the tug-of-war between a nation’s Communist past and the great unknown of its democratic future. 

Diviko Buntic returns home from Germany after a 20-year leave. With his young fiancée, new Mercedes, and beloved black cat in tow, Diviko rolls into town as if he owns the place. And in a way, he does, using his influence with the new mayor (also his cousin) to evict his estranged wife, Lucija, and son, Martin, from their home, which Diviko owns. Lucija and Martin have no other option but to live in a dilapidated municipal apartment.

As Diviko settles into life in his hometown, he reaches out to the son he never knew. An understandably wary Lucija forbids her son to see his father. But the draw of his beloved CB radio, still in the house, is too much, and Martin eventually sneaks back to develop a fragile bond with his father—as well as strong romantic ties to Diviko’s betrothed, Azra. As war looms closer, decisions have to be made: will the family break apart once and for all? Will they leave their homeland on the brink of chaos? Will love prevail—and if so, whose?
—MATTHEW CAMPBELL

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