No Man's Land (2001)

Director:

Danis Tanovic

Writer:

Danis Tanovic (written by)

Release Date:

19 September 2001 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Plot:

Bosnia and Herzegovina during 1993 at the time of the heaviest fighting between the two warring sides. Two soldiers from opposing sides in the conflict, Nino and Ciki, become trapped in no man's land, whilst a third soldier is becomes a living booby trap.

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Trench | Mine | Serb | Booby Trap

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 26 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Branko Djuric	...	Ciki
Rene Bitorajac	...	Nino
Filip Sovagovic	...	Cera
Georges Siatidis	...	Marchand
Serge-Henri Valcke	...	Dubois
Sacha Kremer	...	Michel
Alain Eloy	...	Pierre
Mustafa Nadarevic	...	Old Serbian soldier
Bogdan Diklic	...	Serbian officer
Simon Callow	...	Soft
Katrin Cartlidge	...	Jane Livingstone
Tanja Ribic	...	Martha
Branko Zavrsan	...	Deminer
Djuro Utjesanovic	...	Bosnian guide
Mirza Tanovic	...	Bosnian officer
Boro Stjepanovic	...	Bosnian soldier
Almir Kurt	...	Bosnian soldier
Ratko Ristic	...	Bosnian soldier
Peter Sedmak	...	Bosnian soldier
Sasa Petrovic	...	Bosnian soldier (as Aleksandar Petrovic)
Boris Cindric	...	Miralem
Danijel Smon	...	Serbian officer #2
Peter Prikratki	...	Serbian soldier
Primoz Ranik	...	Cameraman
Jure Plesec	...	Mark
Gordon Wilson	...	John
Maëlys De Rudder	...	Olivia
Alan Fairairn	...	Bill
Michel Obenga	...	UNPROFOR soldier
Rok Strehovec	...	UNPROFOR soldier
Zvone Hribar	...	Journalist
Ales Valic	...	Journalist
Fred M. Liss	...	Journalist
Franc Jakob Rac	...	Journalist
Predrag Brestovac	...	Rambo
Tadej Troha	...	Young Bosnian soldier
Primoz Petkovsek	...	Serbian lieutenant (barricade)
Janez Habic	...	Serbian soldier (barricade)
Matej Bizjak	...	Boy accordionist
Marinko Prga	...	Serbian soldier
Darjan Gorela	...	Serbian soldier
Srecko Dzumber	...	Serbian soldier
Uros Tatomir	...	Serbian sergeant
Matej Recer	...	Bosnian officer (barricade)
Matija Bulatovic	...	Bosnian soldier (barricade)
Uros Furst	...	Bosnian soldier (barricade)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Radovan Karadzic	...	Himself (with François Mitterrand) (archive footage) (uncredited)
François Mitterrand	...	Himself (with Karadzic) (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Danis Tanovic

Writing credits
Danis Tanovic		(written by)

Produced by
Marc Baschet	....	producer
Judy Counihan	....	co-producer
Frédérique Dumas-Zajdela	....	producer
Marion Hänsel	....	co-producer
Dunja Klemenc	....	co-producer
Cédomir Kolar	....	producer
Marco Mueller	....	co-producer
Igor Pedicek	....	co-producer
Cat Villiers	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Danis Tanovic

Cinematography by
Walther van den Ende		(as Walther Vanden Ende)

Film Editing by
Francesca Calvelli

Production Design by
Dusko Milavec

Costume Design by
Zvonka Makuc

Makeup Department
Nancy Beaudoux	....	makeup artist: Belgium (as Nancy Baudoux)
Mirjam Kavcic	....	makeup artist
Jelka Lebeh	....	makeup assistant
Martina Subic-Dodocic	....	makeup department head (as Tina Subic)

Production Management
Mathieu Bompoint	....	post-production supervisor
Andreaja Hodzic	....	production supervisor
Tomaz Lehpamer	....	production manager
Philippe Valentin	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vanja Aljinovic	....	first assistant director
Philippe Groff	....	assistant director: Belgium
Kolja Saksida	....	second assistant director
Martin Turk	....	second assistant director
Bostjan Vrhovec	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Franci Cilensek	....	construction head
Boris Cindric	....	set designer
Sandi Dragicevic	....	prop master assistant
Milorad Kalanj	....	prop master
Gordana Kazic	....	prop master assistant
Bojan Kukovic	....	prop master assistant
Ursa Loboda	....	set designer
Jadranko Palcec	....	head painter
Hubert Pouille	....	set designer: Belgium
Rudi Pozek	....	prop master assistant
Janez Senkinc	....	prop master assistant
Branko Vekic	....	graphics

Sound Department
Sergio Basili	....	foley artist
Michael Billingsley	....	sound designer
Emanuela Di Giunta	....	sound editor
Alloune MBow	....	boom operator: Belgium (as Alioune MBow)
Henri Morelle	....	sound equipment provider
Henri Morelle	....	sound
Stéphane Morelle	....	boom operator
Massimiliano Normanno	....	sound effects recordist
Angelo Raguseo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Philipp Sellier	....	sound engineer: Belgium (as Philippe Sellier)

Special Effects by
Olivier de Laveleye	....	special effects
Anze Flerin	....	special fog effects
Marie Pierre Franck	....	special effects
Ziga Gorenc	....	special effects assistant
Ales Ham	....	special effects consultant
Martin Ilersic	....	additional special effects
Blaz Jelnikar	....	special effects
Marjan Jelnikar	....	special effects
Robert Krasovec	....	special fog effects
Marko Matak	....	special fog effects
Darko Njavro	....	special effects
Andrej Novak	....	additional special effects
Andrej Nuncija	....	additional special effects
Aleksander Pavlin	....	special fog effects
Marko Perme	....	special effects assistant
Grega Petje	....	special fog effects
Domen Saje	....	special effects
Kris Theuwis	....	head effects man
Chris Thewis	....	head effects man: Belgium
Igor Voncina	....	special effects
Blaz Zakotnik	....	special fog effects

Visual Effects by
Jean-Claude Calais	....	visual effects
Pierrot Planckaert	....	visual effects (as Pierre Planckaert)

Stunts
Rok Cvetkov	....	stunt coordinator
Ivo Kristof	....	stunts
Slaven Petrovic	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Ales Belak	....	Steadicam operator
Bernard Delville	....	first assistant camera: Belgium
Didier Frateur	....	first assistant camera
Andrej Gorenc	....	electrician
Chris Hacken	....	chief electrician
Ivica Katona	....	second assistant camera
Miha Kirn	....	electrician
Viktor Penezic	....	second assistant camera
Tomislav Pinter	....	second camera operator
Jernej Prebil	....	trainee electrician
Milan Prebil	....	electrician
Dirk Van Rampelbergh	....	chief electrician: Belgium
Dejan Vekic	....	set photographer
Bozo Zdravec	....	second assistant camera

Animation Department
Frédéric Casnin	....	timing
Patrick Delamotte	....	timing

Casting Department
Karmen Basa	....	extras casting
Gerda Diddens	....	casting: Belgium
Peter Zobec	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Emina Kaliman	....	dresser (as Emina Kaliman Alisic)
Emira Kaliman	....	dresser

Editorial Department
Francesca Cima	....	executive in charge of post-production
Emanuela Di Giunta	....	assistant editor
Federico Mariotto	....	post-production coordinator
Giovanna Ritter	....	assistant editor
Valentina Zoppas	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Miralem Ovcina	....	post-production music assistant: Sarajevo
Samir Foco	....	music producer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Franc Gruden	....	driver
Denis Medved	....	driver: military vehicle
Franc Pavlic	....	driver
Ivan Seme-Simbi	....	driver
Peter Semolic	....	driver: military vehicle
Matjaz Zavbi	....	driver
Alojz Zuzek	....	driver
Robert Zuzek	....	driver

Other crew
Alexandra Balesdens	....	accountant
Francoise Baranger	....	production assistant
Karmen Basa	....	production assistant
Christine Berckmans	....	production secretary
Ian Burley	....	translator
Sanja Cindric	....	translator
Ferid Cumurovic	....	groupman
Alain Delalande	....	translator
Laurent Delville	....	caterer: Belgium
Alessandro Favaron	....	technical coordinator
Jean-Paul Figasso	....	leader: Belgium
Majda Gruden	....	production secretary
Stephane Hiegelin	....	beta editor: Belgium
Sabine Hubeaux	....	beta editor: Belgium
Corinne Iannacone	....	production assistant
Dzenid Jaganjac	....	making-of
Vanessa Jerrom	....	press: France and international
Franc Kes	....	caterer
Jozica Kes	....	caterer
Viviane Koupogbe	....	accountant
Vera Kovacevic	....	press: Slovenia
Frane Krnc	....	production assistant
Mitja Kunstelj	....	armorer
Simon Lacault	....	production trainee
Daro Majcen	....	production assistant
Nadine Marteleck	....	production secretary
Ines Medle	....	caterer
Darko Njavro	....	armorer
Mare Perme	....	armorer
Angela Quintavalle	....	technical coordinator
Melinda Rebrek-Djurisic	....	script girl
Miklavz Skofic	....	helicopter pilot
Céline Sohm	....	production secretary
Nathalie Springael	....	beta editor: Belgium
Franc Tomsic-Puska	....	logistics coordinator
Dusan Turk	....	groupman
Ronny Winkelmans	....	tv production department: Belgium
Carol Phiniotis	....	screening coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Enisa Alicehic	....	special thanks
Valérie Andrault	....	special thanks
Mojca Besson	....	special thanks
Philippe Bony	....	special thanks
Romain Brémont	....	special thanks
Helena Brown	....	special thanks
Olivier Chiavassa	....	special thanks
Patrick Harrel Courtes	....	special thanks
Bertrand Dormoy	....	special thanks
Pierre Du Plessis	....	special thanks
Olivier Duval	....	special thanks
Sylvie El Sayegh	....	special thanks
Nicole Hyde	....	special thanks
Rebecca Kearey	....	special thanks
Cameron McCracken	....	special thanks
Valérie Mussault	....	special thanks
Denis Offroy	....	special thanks
Fabien Perreau	....	special thanks
Simon Perry	....	special thanks
Francois Pouget	....	special thanks
Tomaz Skofic	....	special thanks
Polona Tavcar	....	special thanks
Alison Thompson	....	special thanks
Joy Wong	....	special thanks
Jane Wright	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Noé Productions (co-production)
• Fabrica (co-production) (as Fabrica Cinema)
• Man's Films (co-production)
• Counihan Villiers Productions (co-production)
• Studio Maj (co-production)
• Casablanca (co-production)
• The Centre du Cinema et de l'Audiovisuel de la Communauté Française de Belgique (collaboration)
• Télédistributeurs Wallons (collaboration)
• Slovenian Film Fund (collaboration)
• Eurimages (support)
• British Screen Productions (support)

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Arsenal (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Contact Film (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2001) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Golem Distribución (2002) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) (2001) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Océan Films (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Rai Cinema (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Studio Canal Distribution (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United Artists (2001) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Highlight Film (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2002) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Moskwood Media (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Adria Airways  thanks
• Centre Pavarotti, Mostar  music recorded at
• Cinecittà  sound mixed at
• Direction du Développement et de la Coopération (DDC), Département Fédéral des Affaires Etrangères  contribution
• Europcar Rent-a-car, Ljubljana  thanks
• Fabrica, Trévise  editing facilities
• Fiduciaire Lorminiaux  accounting: Belgium
• Fondazione MonteCinemaVerità Locarno  contribution
• Fuji  film stock
• Grand Hotel Union, Ljubljana  thanks
• Hotel M, Ljubljana  thanks
• KGS  machinery equipment
• Mobitel  thanks
• Monev  camera equipment provided by
• New Digital  sound post-production
• RTV Bosnia-Herzegovina  thanks
• Restaurant Kes  catering
• Revoz (Renault)  thanks
• Rubini & Associés  insurance
• S.I.S.  audio post-synchronization
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Sintal d.o.o.  security services
• Sound On, Rome  digital sound
• Test, Paris  titles and effects
• The Slovenian Army  thanks
• Tri-Track Sync  sound post-synchronization
• VPK  electrical equipment
• Vikram, Rome  stereo sound consulting: Dolby

Also Known As:

Nicija zemlja (Bosnia and Herzegovina: Croatian title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

98 min | Turkey:90 min (TV version)

Country:

Bosnia and Herzegovina | Slovenia | Italy | France | UK | Belgium

Language:

English | French | Bosnian | German

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:All | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | New Zealand:R13 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG (original rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Slovenia

Company:

Noé Productions

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When the bomb disposal expert is examining the mine, his visor is up and so offering no protection.

Quotes:

Sgt. Marchand: Vous parlez francais?
Serb private: No.
Sgt. Marchand: Do you speak English?
Serb private: Yes.
Sgt. Marchand: We came for people.
Serb private: Yes.
Sgt. Marchand: People between lines.
Serb private: Yes, yes.
Sgt. Marchand: Where are they?
Serb private: Yes, yes, yes.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Njemo Kolo

Fallacy of War

This is probably the best film in its genre in the past 20 years or so. Hailed as the present-day Catch-22, the most attractive aspect of this film is that it doesn't have a clear-cut definition of the "good guys" and the "bad guys", so to speak. Most war films clearly identify the people whom the audience members are supposed to hate, and the people whom we are supposed to cheer for. This film, however, decides to take a different route. After all, one-sided films aren't very exciting because they're so predictable.

The soldiers are presented as being humans with complex emotions and personalities, rather than as symbols (i.e of good, or evil), as many Hollywood films tend to do. Yes, the Bosnian and the Serb wanted to kill each other, but we get to know them such that we cannot cheer for one, without cheering for the other.

At the same time, it is a satire on the idleness of bureaucracy, and those who are supposedly the protectors of civil society and the like. Add to the complexity some gawking journalists, and this film is an instant classic...at least in my mind. It could be the parable of our times.

9/10