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Underground
Set against the backdrop of 50 turbulent years of Yugoslavian history, this deeply moving and masterful tragic-farce from director Emir Kusturica earned him his second Palme d'Or.
Director: Emir Kusturica
Overview
This epic tale of friendship, betrayal and romantic entanglement, set against the backdrop of 50 turbulent years of Yugoslavian history earned director Emir Kusturica’s his second Palme d'Or in 1995. A deeply moving and masterful tragic-farce, Underground tells the story of Marko (Miki Manojlović) and Blacky (Lazar Ristovski), two charming rogues making a living on the black market by stealing arms to sell on to the Partisans. Both men are in love with actress Natalija (Mirjana Joković), and in the chaos of war, Marko orchestrates a way to eliminate his competition, by hiding him away in a cellar – for over 20 years – by means of an elaborate charade that the war is still going on.
The film’s soundtrack is by Yugoslavian contemporary composer Goran Bregović, one of the most internationally known modern musicians and composers from the Balkans. He has also worked with Kusturica on his films Time of the Gypsies and Arizona Dream.
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