With an incredibly simple yet complex story, “Na Putu” follows the relationship of a young couple living in Sarejevo. Luna works as a flight attendant, and live-in boyfriend Amar works at ground control. Life is joyous and full of romance for these two, who are crazy about each other -- until Amar loses his job and gets closely involved with a Muslim community. The two slowly fall apart as Amar finds something he can truly believe in through Islam, and demands that Luna follow the same path. Yet, of course, this is only a premise for two people from a society still deeply tormented by the aftermath of the war.What is so strong in Zbanic’s film is that it does not judge, but solely observes and sensitively tries to understand its characters; not only the leading couple, but also their friends and family, who also suffer from the loss of their loved ones. Life goes on in Bosnia, but everyone applies a different solution to deal with their war-torn lives, including Amar. But above all, “Na Putu” is Luna’s story and her fight for a future by accepting the past, not being trapped by it.
This is a sublime film of compassion and a truthful portrayal of the difficulty of unconditional love in a time and place where the ghosts of the near past haunt the present, and have yet to haunt the future.
Runs 100 minutes, Bosnian with subtitles in English and Turkish.
Showings:
Sunday, 7 p.m., Yeni Rüya
Wednesday, 11 a.m., Yeni Rüya
