Must Watch Before You Die #15: Underground (1995)

I just got introduced to the cinema of Emir Kusturica, and watched one of his best known works - 'Underground'. The less you know about this movie before watching, the more you'll enjoy it. And you'll enjoy it more with subsequent repeat viewings. There is no harm in sharing this much though - the film is about Yugoslavia, a country that once existed, and tracks its political journey across fifty years.

However, 'Underground' is not your typical war-movie. There is nothing typical about it. At 2hrs 40 minutes, it might appear slightly longer, especially in the first half. But once you sit through it, you'll never forget its characters and moments. Insane and absurd. Political and poetic. Entertaining, and how! This film is one supreme achievement of the medium of cinema.

P.S. I love this thing about foreign-language movies - the insight they provide about different lands and cultures. I hardly cared about Yugoslavia till now. Frankly, I didn't even know it did not exist any more!