A thoroughly strange work that was released at a fraught time and remains equally popular and controversial. I'm not qualified to engage in a deep analysis of the movie's potential political failings or successes but I will say that demanding a piece of art address all aspects of history that you want explored seems unreasonable. I respect that the zany energy is sustained from start to finish and think that without that tone the movie could have been unbearable.

Just falls short of Time of the Gypsies but Kusturica produced an absolute gem in Underground. It's madcap, dark and brilliant. Almost impossible to explain but wildly inventive. I may be harsh in not giving it the full five stars but the ending got so off the wall that I just couldn't quite go there. Still, it's essential viewing and an absolute joy. What a Director. Bought on DVD from Oxfam. Cost a bit more this one but I wanted it in my collection.

Masterpiece! Always surprised by the surrealism. The symbolic portrayal of love and death is unmatched.

Too naive to be called a war movie. Kusturica's Underground is more about songs and dance than it is about war. The film fails to consider the socio-political aspects, and just gives everything a comical effect.

"Tito, having lost his friend, fell ill. 20 years later, he died." I'm no expert on the intricate geopolitics of the countries that inhabit old Yugoslavia, but Kusturica's Underground does feel like a compelling and unique take on the national transformation that the region has undergone in the aftermath of World War II, embracing every facet of that ever-changing identity. The film delivers a wide range of tones, subplots, and styles to reflect these changes in self-perception, beginning with a sharp and legitimately funny comedy based on shared ideals (the partisan response to German invasion) before using the camaraderie that it has developed to take on more sincere drama, at first carrying over elements of the earlier humor in the creation of a fake reality for profit (that WWII never ended, touching on the gradual corruption of once-pure national sentiment) before devolving into the pure chaos and disillusionment of the Yugoslav Wars. It's an interesting design, treating the country and its perception almost as a character, changing with time in somewhat indirectly presented ways. While I appreciate the way that the plot unfolds, to me the film is at its best in establishing relationships between characters, and there is none more prominent or impactful than the friendship between Manojlović's Marko and Ristovski's Blacky; their boisterous chemistry is the foundation on which the rest of the film is built, and their early lighthearted exchanges totally sell the dynamic. Some very original story design, surprisingly substantial sets, and creative direction make Underground a distinct and worthwhile epic, even if it apparently attracts criticism among those sensitive to the ongoing regional conflict in Serbia and beyond. (4/5)

One of the best films ever made. An absolute stroke of genius by Emir Kusturica. A Balkan story so full of history, life, madness, wisdom, colorful characters and fabulous music, it simply makes your life richer.

A charming political mess. Worth watching.

This is absolutely against wars.But it's not normal that kind of one.This movie is really powerful, happy ,but sad.

Between a dreamy fairytale, and a dreadful reality, stands this amazing work of art. Kusturica Masterpiece.

Belgrade, 1941. Germany has invaded Yugoslavia. In the aftermath of the fall of Yugoslavia, two friends Blacky and Marko organise a residence, attacking German supply trains and depots and stealing weapons from the Germans. After a few years their operation moves completely underground and consists of manufacturing weapons. Marko is the only member of the resistance movement who gets to go to the surface. When the war ends, due to the economic and status benefits to him, he fails to tell the others that the war has ended... Brilliant movie from director Emir Kusturica. For the large part this is a comedy - some wonderfully absurd scenes and dark humour. Some of the scenes are straight out of the Charlie Chaplin playbook - clever, over-the-top physical humour. Add in a rollicking horn-filled soundtrack and you have a mood that is light and a pace that is quick. However, it is not all comedy - far from it. There is always a dark element to the film, including showing graphic war scenes in the middle of joyful scenes and slapstick comedy. The early-film sequence of a zookeeper lovingly feeding his animals, followed by the Germans bombing the zoo, leaving dead and maimed animals strewn across the screen, followed by an escaped elephant stealing a man's shoes, is a great example of this. This does well to show the absurd nature of war. Think Terry Gilliam meets Charlie Chaplin, with killing. In addition, beneath the absurdist humour lies a simmering theme of nationalism and betrayal. This all comes home to roost in the final era of the film, as the movie closes the loop and some great profundities are revealed. A movie that is sure to stick in your head, no matter what you think of it.

Why is this not available to see again!?

Erase una vez un país... Gracias señor Kusturica

Whatever the underlying symbolism to do with the breakup of Yugoslavia, this film is a true great. The casting is fantastic and the acting craps all over the garbage I see in the cinema. I could not help but love every character in this movie. I don't care about the historical accuracy or political connotations (though I would maybe feel differently if I was from that part of the world), to me it's like a celebration of life and all the grief that comes with it. If you have partisan feelings I would simply advise you to shelve them and admire the art instead.One of the most creative and astounding films ever conceived. For a director to produce something both so polished and well-produced as well as uncompromising and timely is all too rare in the history of cinema.

Brilliantly done dark comedy. Haven't seen anything like this yet!

Pretty entertaining movie, but way to drawn out. The acting is okay, the story is complex, and there is so much more to the movie than it seems. It can be funny, and it can also be upsetting. It's ups and downs all the way.

http://filmreviewsnsuch.blogspot.com/2015/06/underground.html

Crazy film indeed.. haha

Just couldn't get into it.

Emir Kusturica hits. Probably the best example for satire comedy with war and politics. Grab him to a recognition in world cinema. A pure classic!!

It's a lot of fun to look at with rich, detailed sets and lots of motion (even when we're confined underground). The near constant brass band propels the movie and lends excitement and charm even when the movie meanders and the story sags and drags. Worth a watch.