Directed by Jasmila Zbanic
Starring Jasna Djuricic, Johan Heldenbergh, Raymond Thiry, Boris Isakovic, Izudin Bajrovic, Boris Ler and Dino Bajrovic

The true events depicted in the 2021 Oscar Nominated Quo Vadis, Aida? occurred in 1995, yet two and a half decades on, similar military takeovers that oppress civilians and end with tragic loss of life continues to happen across the globe. 

Inspired by the book Under the UN Flag by Hasan Nuhanovic, the film’s titular character works as a translator for the United Nations and is also a civilian of Srebrenica, a small town and entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina that is close to the Serbian border. Aida (Jasna Djuricic), Aida’s husband Nihad (Izudin Bajrovic) and their two sons, Hamdija (Boris Ler) and Sejo (Dino Bajrovic) have survived three and a half years of war before units of the Bosnian Serb Army of Republika Srpska, led by the self-important General Ratko Mladic (played by lead actress Jasna Djuricic’s real-life husband, Boris Isakovic) seize control of the township. 

A fading attempt to protect citizens unfolds as a Dutch battalion station a UN peacekeeper-operated military base designed to guard a few thousand of the more than 30,000 besieged civilians. While working inside the camp, Aida learns her family are among those stuck on the outside and frantically attempts to locate and rescue them.


A survivor of war herself, director Jasmila Zbanic effortlessly and powerfully captures the chaos, fear and uncertainty that rapidly unfolds in this nightmarish ordeal with gripping immediacy and a world of empathy. Even while watching Quo Vadis, Aida?, all I wanted to do was go home to my loved ones, embrace them, and tell them I love them. Recounting this fairly recent atrocity and chronicling the story of Aida’s search for her family are more than significant and involving on their own, but Quo Vadis, Aida? also unpacks the roles and responsibilities of United Nations on-site employees and the behind-the-scenes shot-callers with conviction. This thought-provoking and accountability-seeking move successfully seeks to demonstrate how the actions, or rather inactions, of those with the ability and power to help fell well short of their duty. It is a testament to the failure in true leadership in a time and place it was most needed.

Quo Vadis, Aida? is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from February 17th.

Moviedoc thanks Palace Films for the invite to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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