'Border Post’ exceeds expectations
By Nicole Bonomini, Staff Writer
May 2, 2007 | 11:07 a.m.
Impressive cinematography, character chemistry and an ironic, yet gripping plot line distinguish "Border Post" from the rest of the sardonic, dark-comedy war flicks.
In a place where not much happens despite being at war with a neighboring country, Lieutenant Safet Pasic begins to have pain in his groin at a border post on the Yugoslav-Albanian border. Friend and subordinate doctor Sinisa Sircevic diagnosis him with syphilis.
When it’s apparent that the married man did not get the disease from his wife, the lieutenant realizes he cannot go home and allow his wife to discover his infidelity. Rather than risk that particular home front disaster, Pasic declares a state of emergency in the war to avoid going home. Claiming that the Albanian army is preparing to attack their seaside post, Pasic revokes all-day passes and leave passes for all soldiers on the base. No one is allowed to leave under any circumstances, with the exception of Dr. Sircevic, who must tell Pasic’s wife the news and get medication for his disease.
Director Rajko Grlic, visiting film professor for the 2006-2007 school year at Ohio University, presented the film Friday at the Athena. Grlic said it was the first film produced after the war by all of the former Yugoslav republics.
The best humor of the film comes from the soldier Paunovic, whose antics keep audience members entertained until the very end. Paunovic constantly defies orders, rallying morale for his fellow soldiers and providing vulgar humor in every scene in which he appears.
A well-crafted military satire, “Border Post” exceeds stereotypes in the genre. However, it’s most memorable for its ability to foreshadow the political turmoil and havoc that awaited Yugoslavia’s countrymen after the war that would destroy their country in the 1990s.
For more information on "Border Post," please visit AthensFest.org, the Athens Film Festival's Web site. The last showing will be Thursday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Athena Grand.
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Speakeasy rating: B+Running time: 1 hour, 34 minutes
MPAA rating: Not rated
Genre: Action, Drama, Foreign