Come pecore in mezzo ai lupi

I hate spoilers so I will not add anything about the storyline. My review is from the way I personally felt as I watched this film for the first time at the IFFR screening. From the first moments of the opening scene, you are gripped by the gravity of the scenario faced by the lead character. The retelling of a story in a car sets the scene for the type of characters you will face throughout the film. True to the genre of crime thriller, your stomach is kept balancing on a carefully mastered tightrope of anxious hope infiltrated by stark realities. A roller coaster of emotions are also experienced because of the complex web of personal connection and the film can leave the viewer with personal questions about "what would I do in that situation?". Each choice makes sense even if there were so many possibilities. Through the lens of ties (blood) that are thicker than water you desperately want to see good win out in the end, even if that can sometimes be wishful thinking in the real world, a point that is not lost in this film where some of the brutal facts of life are left unfiltered for the viewer to experience first hand. Brilliantly acted, the cast delivered strong performances with passion and absolute believability. The cinematography and music strongly complement the storyline and gave it a fully rounded feeling. It's a must see film!

Another typical stereotyping of Serbs as some ruthless criminal thugs in a movie with below par acting, shallow characterisation and a boring plot. By the way, the casting should do a much better job. Of the three "Serbs" we meet in the movies, two had Montenegrin accents and one was speaking Croatian. So why not make them two Montenegrin criminals and one Croatian criminal, if you can't find Serbs willing to portray your thugs. European cinema has truly hit rock bottom if this kind of trash is being selected for film festivals. What is more, it's been ages since I saw an Italian movie dealing with its own criminal product - the n'drangheta.