Sjecas li se dolly bell? - Do you remember Dolly
Bell? - A classic serbian movie by Emil Kosturica
Sjecas li se dolly is a piece of classic in the well known
Kosturica genre, the movie is from the distant 1981. The movie
action takes place in communistic Yugoslavia. It clearly contains
anti-communistic nuances. I'm really amazed that this movie see the
light of the day in the early '90s while still communism had strong
influence on information media in Yugoslavia.
As I've lived until the age of 7 in communism and post-communism
(and experienced myself communism), the movie was especially
interesting to see. In the family in the movie I can see many
things I've seen and suffered many of the anti-human communistic
bull-shit in my own family in my boy years.
Communism has cripppled us the Bulgarians as a nation and destroyed
any society which it was in (clearly observable in all
post-communistic countries).
Interesting thing to notice among the communistic Marxist ideas in
the plot is the growing influence of the Western World (seen in the
anti social behavior of the actors),the enthusiasm to look for
occult of the main actor the teenager boy - (Dino), the desire to
look follow Italian western culture etc.
The movie also keeps the mark of the negativism and crazyness which
is so distinct about all Kosturica movies I've seen. Anyways from
an art point of view the movie is a real master piece.
The movie plot takes place in the so conflict area of Sarajevo, a
place predominated by Muslims. What is shocking about the movie
considering its time of make, is the explicit erotic and sexually
related scenes. The censorship in communistic times was quite
severe so it's amazing, how this anti-communistic movie containing
society unacceptable scenes ever came to existence.
Do you remember Dolly Bell? is a drama movie, presenting a
sad reality, we still partially continue to live in the Balkans.
Though 20 years has passed since the fall of communism pitily not
much has changed here...
Near the movie end there are some religious scenes as well
obviously attempting to fill in the material emptiness of communism
with something spiritual. The religious scene,is a muslim local
tradition of a funeral preparations.
The relation between the movie and Islam is understandable as
Kosturica had some Bosnian Muslim roots from the line of his
father. This kind of muslim influence is also observable on the
other Kosturica movies as well.
Nowdays since 2005, Kosturica is officially Orthodox Christian
baptized in Savina Monastery which makes me happy as myself am
Orthodox Christian ;)