Rent Underground (1995)
3.6 of 5 from 247 ratings
2h 40min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- This extraordinarily dramatic black tragicomedy is an epic tale of love, friendship and betrayal set against the complex historical backdrop of the former Yugoslavia. The story follows two likeable crooks - Marko (Miki Manojlovic), a charmer who manipulates everyone within his reach, and the foolish but loveable Blacky (Lazar Ristovski) - and Natalija (Mirjana Jokovic), an actress of easy virtue with whom they are both in love. The three become embroiled in a world of conflict, self-delusion and deceit - but where there are also moments of tenderness and love - in this visionary allegory of Balkan vitality, energy, humour and the will to survive.
- Actors:
- Predrag 'Miki' Manojlovic, Lazar Ristovski, Mirjana Jokovic, Slavko Stimac, Ernst Stötzner, Srdjan Todorovic, Mirjana Karanovic, Milena Pavlovic, Danilo 'Bata' Stojkovic, Bora Todorovic, Davor Dujmovic, Nele Karajlic, Branislav Lecic, Dragan Nikolic, Erol Kadic, Predrag Zagorac, Hark Bohm, Petar Kralj, Emir Kusturica, Pierre Spengler
- Directors:
- Emir Kusturica
- Producers:
- Alain Depardieu, Milorad Vucelic, Karl Baumgartner, Pierre Spengler, Maksa Catovic
- Writers:
- Dusan Kovacevic, Emir Kusturica
- Aka:
- Bila jednom jedna zemlja / Once Upon a Time There Was a Country
- Studio:
- Artificial Eye Film Company Ltd.
- Genres:
- Classics, Comedy, Drama
- Collections:
- Top 10 Cannes Palme d'Or Winners, Top Films
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 29/02/2016
- Run Time:
- 170 minutes
- Languages:
- Srbo-Croatian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Srbo-Croatian LPCM Stereo
- Subtitles:
- English
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- 'Once Upon a Time There Was a Country' (Emir Kusturica, 1995, 315 mins): the six-part TV version of 'Underground'
- Shooting Days (Aleksandar Manic, 1996, 73 mins): documentary on the making of 'Underground' EPK Items (29 mins): behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the director, cast and production designer
- Trailer (1 min)
- Disc 1:
- This disc includes the main feature
- Disc 2:
- This disc includes:
- Once Upon a Time There Was a Country (Episodes 1 - 4) - Disc 3:
- This disc includes:
- Once Upon a Time There Was a Country (Episodes 5 - 6)
- Special Features
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Reviews (3) of Underground
stunningly surreal gypsy flick - Underground review by CP Customer
This film starts with one of the most powerful sequences in European cinema, and sets the scene for a romp through a bizarre take on Balkan history through the last sixty years. Using powerful actors and even more powerful gypsy musicians Emir Kusturica explores the relationship between a pair of rogues and a classical femme fatale. If you liked Delicatessen, enjoy Gogol Bordello and want to travel somewhere exotic but are prevented by the credit crunch, then this is for you (but set a full night aside - it's nearly 3 hrs long!)
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Chaotic greatness. - Underground review by JD
This is a frantic and chaotic portrayal of Yugoslavia over the latter half of the 20th century. The pace is exhausting and exhilarating, but makes the plot difficult to follow. A comic tragedy of great worth. (Beware, also an epic.) I thought it was what world cinema was all about; the antithesis of Hollywood. Highly recommended.
1 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
A film that has been overtaken by history - Underground review by TE
This blu-ray issue consists of the cinema version of 'Underground' and a second disc containing the 4-part television mini-series that was edited down to the final cinema cut (which is still nearly 3 hours long).
Emil Kusturica was once a feted world cinema director, but his status has been diminished by the politically controversial nature of some of his films, especially this one, 'Underground'. He has been accused by many people of being an apologist for the brutal nationalism of the former Serbian regime. 'Underground' certainly gives a very partial account of the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, and the treatment of the non-Serbian characters (especially the Bosnians) is regrettable, though Kusturica is on record as having no regrets. Nowadays his reputation is intact only within Serbia.
The film still carries a powerful, slightly manic energy, and the music is great. But overall the narrative is compromised by the director's political agenda, which has not stood the test of time.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.