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33 out of 35 people found the following review useful: Bringing back the memories ..., 19 February 2000 Author: emirco from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Well, I just finished watching the movie and I'm feeling pretty down. You see, I've spent the whole war in Sarajevo and I had the good luck needed to survive through the whole thing. This brings us to the fact that I'm not so objective since I'm emotionally involved in this matter. The war ended four years ago but this movie made me feel like it was still going on. I could not sit calmly while I was watching it. It was so disturbingly realistic that the whole time I was watching it I could not choose between crying and laughing and at the end I caught myself sitting and staring at a non-existing dot on the wall. I can tell you one thing: If this film was intended to send the message of peace and tolerance it failed. Once again it filled me with emotions of pain and hate that I was trying to leave behind. Yet, it does not make it less significant. I just noticed that my whole comment was about my emotions and not about the movie so I world like to state that this is a great film with good cast but for a second I wished that I hadn't seen it in the first place. I hope that people from outside of Bosnia will see it and will not accept it as a piece of fiction; they should be aware of the fact that these things still really happen at the and of 20th century. Shameful.
15 out of 15 people found the following review useful: great drama depicting the british soldiers in Bosnia., 31 August 2003 Author: dooose from oslo, norway
As far as I´m concerned Warriors is a very realistic depiction of what it was like in Bosnia during the war. It shows the brutality being committed to civilians and how the "hopeless" Un-mandate could comfuse (and disgust) both the population and the soldiers themselves. Just look what happened in the "safe sone" of Srebrenica(!).But one must bare in mind that the events depicted here is just in One particular region of Bosnia. Here it happenes to be the British-sector in the Travnic, Vitez, Amichi area. Some incidents I know happened (like the burned victims in the cellar) and some are most likely made up, but surely with the intent of realism in mind. Here obviosly the Serbs outnumbered the Muslims and therefor had most of the control. This I mention because after reading two comments here, both from Bosnia oe most likely to be Serb (saying that the depictions in this film are "black and white" portrayed) and one Muslim (Finding the film to be very realistic, having lived through the whole war in Sarajevo.)Having been in bosnia myself I think I can appreciate this film more. Being shot in Tsjekkia it still looks very much like Bosnia. Although it was wery calm there then (in -99),long after the war was over. The UN had been replaced by the NATO forces(maybe a bit too late). But the work consisted of pretty much the same(except for the extreme tasks given as the result of war off cource) , driving around in our "sizu`s", working with local interpreters and keeping in touch with the local population. The following year I went to Kosovo, a more recent conflict. During that war NATO bombed Serbia in protest of the treatment given to the Albanians in Kosovo. When we arrived(early 2000) the situation had turned to the opposite and it was mostly the Serbs who had to be kept safe of the Albanians, who had started returning to Kosovo.So I agree that there is no such thing as a "black and white" explanation of the tragedy. There was surely bad deeds made by all "sides", as in every war.Film rates 10/10!
15 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Think a minute!, 15 November 2000 Author: Ken Gordian from Luebeck, Germany
It's a shame that this movie will be seen only by a minority. A remarkable and authentic documentation of the humanitarian mission of the British UN peace force during the Bosnian war.You may think, due to its documentary character, the movie is awfully boring. The opposite is the case: Because of the excellent camera work, you get the impression of being a member of the British armoured infantrymen yourself. And while you are patrolling the area in white tanks in order to show UNPROFOR presence, the only thing you are allowed to do by higher orders of the UN command is to observe, unable to help, shield or evacuate the civilians from the atrocities committed by the soldiers and militia of each ethnical fraction. You start feeling as helpless as the British soldiers must have felt in reality. This movie is therefore very disillusioning and depressing.In my opinion, this is a very powerful movie with the typical BBC documentation style, no Hollywood clichés. It should be seen by many, many more people, especially when you consider that this historic example of ethnic cleansing took place right on our doorstep only a decade ago and nevertheless today is almost forgotten. An impressive account of the tragic role of the UN during a bloody civil war.Highly recommended! 10/10
17 out of 20 people found the following review useful: If you see a more accurate depiction of wartime Bosnia then you're probably watching a news report., 13 May 2000 Author: Sly-28 (atrax@cwcom.net)
Peter Kosminsky graces our screens with another socio-political issue that catches his eye. This time it's the Bosnia war. The purpose of the film is to highlight the decision to send 'peace keeper' troops in, the legitimacy of their purpose in the situation and the effects of this on the troops involved.It does this with the sandwich style presentation: the process and the before and after. The process, the troops in action in Bosnia during the war, is presented quite superbly. Tremendous amounts of effort have been put in to recreate wartime Bosnia. To sum it up in one sentence: If you see a more accurate depiction of wartime Bosnia then you're probably watching a news report. The acting is also top quality and coalesces perfectly with all other aspects of the location. I did find some of the dialogue a little unbelievable. As the Bosnia war is a complex subject for discussion it seemed too much detail was crammed into the lines on occasions as in several instances the path finders come up with spontaneous word perfect one line anecdotes of their findings.Unfortunate the meat of the story is sandwiched in a bit of a soap opera. The before, getting to know bit, I found a little false and also found the after a little indelicate as if a brief had been given to describe the ill effects of a brutal war on those involved in fifteen minutes. It could have been better thought out.The one thing that kept me impressed throughout was the performance of Ioan Gruffudd who's character remains convincing and believable throughout.
12 out of 13 people found the following review useful: The movie is impressive, 24 July 2001 Author: RufusJWB from Linköping, Sweden
I saw this movie yesterday and today, and i registered at IMDB to comment it. It's the first movie about the war in bosnia i have seen so far, and i don't think a movie can be much better. The movie shows us in a very impressive way, why war is bad. And i have to ask my self, how many lives could be saved, if we would have intervened earlier.
10 out of 11 people found the following review useful: Brilliant account of inhumanity, bravery and trauma, 7 November 2004 Author: rhwilton from Reading, England
This film shows the BBC at its best, with great acting, harrowing scenes and touching moments.I notice that some of the comments suggest that it is anti-Serb. Well, some of the "baddies" are Croat. (The scene with the lorry-load of bodies near the end of the Bosnia scenes is a case in point.)Perhaps it's pro-Muslim, but I think anyone watching it will realize that it is not a "goodies" and "baddies" film.Does the film advocate military intervention on a grand scale? No.Does it show the futility of delivering food parcels to people who are about to be massacred? Yes.There are no easy answers to the questions asked by this film. You should watch it and remember that this all happened in a "civilized" European country, just a few years ago.The evil shown is not Serb or Croat or Muslim evil. The evil is hate, that betrays God.At our church, a visiting priest explained that he would not be visiting again for a few months, because he is an army chaplain and his unit was off to Kosovo. Kosovo is a different fall-out from Yugoslavia, but, having seen this film, I prayed long and hard for him.Don't miss it and be prepared to be upset.
10 out of 11 people found the following review useful: On film and war!, 24 May 2004 Author: Fico from Slovenia
I, have to emphasis that, I was not in Bosnia during the wartime. But because we lived in the same state for a long time I can say that I have a good historical overview and a lot of informations from all sides involved in war in Bosnia. On that basis I think the movie is good representation of real event. It is also very good antiwar movie.I can imagine that Serbs wont like the movie, but they have to face the truth. Sooner they realize the truth better for them and for development of their nation. The fact that all sides did war crimes is not of big help here. The fact is that pictures, like in movie, were the most common, and you have to remember who started the blood spilling and genocide. But remember it is not about people but politics who manipulate with masses. The people are the same everywhere you go; bad and good and mostly inbetween. The role of international community and UNPROFOR in Bosnia was very questionable. They let the killing of innocents before their eyes and did nothing. Even more, the UN people turned into a corrupted band who struggled only for surviving, earning money and promotions. Even on highest levels. Just remember one French general.But like I said the people are good and bad. So I can imagine that some soldiers had a real problems with facing the unjustice and horror supported from international community. I saw yesterday on Monte Negro TV a prewar speech from president of Bosnia,Alija Izetbegovic who said: " Bad negotations are better then a good war." Congratulations to Monte Negro TV for independent standpoint with presentations of former enemies and to mr. Izetbegovic for a clever thought. Too bad they all did not take this idea seriously. One more. Yesterday at night I saw this movie on Pink TV. Yes, on Serbian TV! The things are changing. Congratulations!!!With all respect on victims on all sides.
8 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Excellent production, 17 May 2006 Author: Ray Massart from Belgium
This two-part series which was shown on TV is a description of how a majority of British UN soldiers experienced the war in former Yougoslavia.Their task was mainly a humanitarian mission based on a policy of non-intervention.This policy may have worked in the minds of well-intentioned theoreticians but was impossible to execute in the real environment of war-torn Bosnia.These soldiers were subjected to constant stress resulting from their orders not to intervene, the hostility they experienced as foreign intruders,the language barriers and the bestiality they encountered without being able to offer any significant help.The traumas that these men experienced definitely had a devastating and lasting effect on their further lives "Warriors" draws the viewer into the ongoing drama in such a convincing way that one fully grasps the frustration these soldiers must have experienced. Excellent production: a top-class cinematographic document performed by outstanding actors.
7 out of 7 people found the following review useful: One of the best television dramas ever produced...., 13 December 2000 Author: pcowan from Washington State, USA
...and the rest of America will realize it if it is ever seen on American television. Where is PBS when you need them most? BBC America has shown this several times, without their usual commercial interruption (which should give some indication of the respect they hold for this drama), but unfortunately not many cable systems offer BBC America. PBS is dropping the ball by not picking this up for the rest of the United States to view. The writing, acting, and production values are all excellent. If only people knew what they were missing.
8 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Harrowing, bleak and brilliant war film., 6 December 2002 Author: Andy (A.M.Stevenson_01@wkac.ac.uk) from Winchester, England
This film, about a group of British soldiers helping out for the UN in Bosnia in the early 90s, is a disturbing, powerful and superb piece of film making. Despite its long length, this film depicts the frustration and personal pain British troops faced while in Bosnia, witnessing mass deaths of civilians and being unable to give proper assistance because of war 'restrictions'. The atmosphere is bleak and often tense, with the audience sympathising with the frustrated troops after 'clearing' up human body remains.The aftermath and the pain the soldiers continue to feel after they get back to Britian is unsympathetic and superbly acted, especially from 'Band Of Brothers' star Damian Lewis and Matthew MacFadyen, and the scene when a soldier befriends a Bosnian civilian wearing a Manchester United shirt and has to hand him over to officials to be shot is one of the most powerful humanitarian war scenes in any film I have ever witnessed, with the Liverpool born soldier sinking to breaking point and bursting into tears.It is easy to see why people may not like this. The pace is slow from time to time. Perhaps it is a touchy subject, but its a shame more people in America will not have the chance to see it. They should. It is compulsive viewing. Harrowing and brilliant, Warriors will stay with you.8.5 out of 10
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