Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Jasmila +bani+
Mirjana Karanovic
Luna Mijovic
Leon Lu+ev
Kenan Catic
Jasna Ornela Berry
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Single mother Esma lives with her 12-year-old daughter Sara in Sarajevo's Grbavica neighborhood, where life is still being reconstructed after the 1990s Yugoslav wars. Unable to make ends meet with the meager government aid she receives, Esma takes a job as a cocktail waitress in a nightclub. Working all night is difficult for Esma and it also forces her to spend less time with her daughter. Still haunted by violent events in her past, Esma attends group therapy sessions at the local Women's Center. In addition to relying on her best friend Sabina, Esma finds a kindred spirit in Pelda, a compassionate male co-worker from the nightclub. Feisty tomboy Sara begins to put soccer aside as she develops a close friendship with classmate Samir. The two sensitive young teenagers feel a strong bond because both lost their fathers in the war. But Samir is surprised to hear Sara doesn't know the details of her father's noble death. Sara's father becomes an issue when she requires the certificate proving he died a "shaheed", a war martyr, so that she can receive a discount for an upcoming school trip. Esma claims acquiring the certificate is difficult since his body has yet to be found. Meanwhile, Esma searches desperately to borrow money to pay for Sara's trip. Sara becomes violently upset when classmates tease her for not being on the list of martyrs' children. Realizing her mother has paid full price for the school trip, Sara aggressively demands the truth. As painful as their confrontation is, it is Esma's first real step toward overcoming her past and brings hope for a renewed relationship between mother and daughter.
Director
Jasmila +bani+
Cast
Mirjana Karanovic
Luna Mijovic
Leon Lu+ev
Kenan Catic
Jasna Ornela Berry
Dejan Acimovic
Bogdan Diklic
Emir Had+ihafizbegovi+
Crew
Jasmila +bani+
Barbara Albert
Igor Camo
Lejla Hodzic
Kemal Hrustanovic
Damir Ibrahimovic
Damir Ibrahimovich
Oriana Kuncic
Christine A Maier
Christine A Maier
Boris Michalski
Niki Mossbock
Damir Rihtaric
Milan Stojanovic
Nenad Vukadovinic
Bruno Wagner
Tom Weber
Enes Zlatar
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Winner of the Golden Bear for Best Dramatic Feature at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival.
Winner of the Grand Jury Award for International Feature at the 2006 AFI/Los Angeles Film Festival.
Released in United States Winter February 16, 2007
Released in United States March 2, 2007
Released in United States on Video June 12, 2007
Released in United States 2006
Released in United States January 2006
Released in United States February 2006
Released in United States October 2006
Released in United States November 2006
Released in United States 2007
Released in United States January 2007
Shown at London Film Festival (Cinema Europa) October 18-November 2, 2006.
Shown at Berlin International Film Festival (Competition) February 9-19, 2006.
Shown at Pusan International Film Festival (World Cinema) October 12-20, 2006.
Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival (World Cinema) January 25-February 4, 2007.
Shown at Palm Springs International Film Festival (Awards Buzz - Best Foreign Language Film) January 4-15, 2007.
Feature directorial debut for Jasmila Zbanic.
Released in United States Winter February 16, 2007 (NY)
Released in United States March 2, 2007 (Los Angeles)
Released in United States on Video June 12, 2007
Released in United States 2006 (Shown at London Film Festival (Cinema Europa) October 18-November 2, 2006.)
Released in United States January 2006 (Shown at Sundance Film Festival (World Cinema Dramatic Competition) January 19-29, 2006.)
Released in United States February 2006 (Shown at Berlin International Film Festival (Competition) February 9-19, 2006.)
Released in United States 2007 (Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival (World Cinema) January 25-February 4, 2007.)
Released in United States November 2006 (Shown at AFI/Los Angeles Film Festival (International Feature Competition) November 1-12, 2006.)
Released in United States October 2006 (Shown at Pusan International Film Festival (World Cinema) October 12-20, 2006.)
Released in United States January 2007 (Shown at Palm Springs International Film Festival (Awards Buzz ¿ Best Foreign Language Film) January 4-15, 2007.)
Winner of the John Schlesinger Award, 2007 Palm Springs International Film Festival.
