Close your eyes and imagine a film you'd expect Angelina Jolie to create. That mental image that just occurred - that was In the Land of Blood and Honey.
Historical drama. Bittersweet romance. Foreign politics. These are just a few of the story qualities that encompass Jolie's directorial debut. And while the film is hauntingly visual and disturbingly grotesque, I can't help but feel that more shock was crafted in order to drive home the underlying point.
I'll be the first to admit that I am not overly knowledgeable when it comes to the Bosnian conflict between the Serb and Muslim citizens. But that didn't stop me from often feeling as if the story was overplaying the events of the 1992 - 1995 war. By the end of it I felt as if I had personally been assaulted as I bore witness to a two hour killing spree that ultimately distracted from Jolie's gritty capture of a land lost unto itself.
And it is a shame. At its root In the Land of Blood and Honey is a strong, powerful story; one that didn't need gimmicks to pull it all together. Zana Marjanovic and Goran Kostic play Ajla and Danijel, lovers who land on opposite sides of the line as violence engulfs the land they call home. Months after the initial attack the pair meet again, though this time one is a prisoner to the others command.
The twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat as you anxiously await the film's final ten minutes. And while the ending is exactly what one would expect, you find yourself so consumed by the budding love affair that you lose sight of the details. Consequently the war often takes a backseat ride to the romance, an unfortunate result for both the audience and Jolie.
