Quo Vadis, Aida? (2020) 

A FAMILY TRIES TO STICK TOGETHER IN A WORLD TORN APART

You know you’re watching something powerful when the only sounds you can hear in the cinema, are the gasps and sniffles from the audience. That’s exactly the atmosphere Jasmila Zbanic’s Quo Vadis, Aida? conjured up inside Sydney’s State Theatre during the 68th Sydney Film Festival. An unforgettable experience for an unbelievable film.

In the tumultuous backdrop of Bosnia in July 1995, Aida (Jasna Djuricic) finds herself thrust into a harrowing ordeal as the Serbian army seizes control of the small town of Srebrenica. As a translator for the UN stationed in the area, she becomes a witness to the unfolding tragedy, grappling with the weight of crucial information that could determine the fate of her family and fellow citizens. With thousands seeking refuge in the UN camp, Aida finds herself torn between the urgency of interpreting critical negotiations and the overwhelming uncertainty of her family's future. As the tension escalates and the spectre of death looms large, Aida is forced to navigate a treacherous moral landscape, where every decision carries life-altering consequences and the line between survival and sacrifice becomes increasingly blurred.

A cinematic tour de force in every sense, Quo Vadis, Aida? delivers a gut-wrenching, relentless experience that leaves an indelible mark on viewers. Jasmila Zbanic's masterful direction and stellar performances across the board create an authentic portrayal that resonates deeply. Set against the backdrop of a real-life conflict, the film navigates the profound despair and helplessness faced by refugees, exposing the incompetence of international organisations like the United Nations in the face of wholesale killings.

Zbanic's meticulous attention to detail ensures that the fictional family at the heart of the story feels vividly real, while the unfolding drama is both compelling and disturbing. Through Jasna Duricic's powerful lead performance and strong support from the ensemble cast, the film delves into the failures and indifference of those in positions of authority.

Quo Vadis, Aida? serves as a stark reminder of the enduring pain and trauma wrought by warfare, while laying bare the systemic failures that enable such atrocities to occur unchecked. Unforgettable and essential viewing, this Bosnian war drama leaves a lasting impact with its searing intensity and gut-punching finale.

While I have a lot of love for Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round, I think this astonishing piece of work deserved the golden trophy for Best Foreign Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.

★★★★★

4 NOVEMBER 2021