Welcome to Sarajevo

I've previously seen some excellent movies about the Balkan conflict so I was apprehensive when I chose this English movie. The movie is directed by Michael Winterbottom and contains some big name actors like Woody Harrelson, Kerry Fox (also in the movie Storm about the ICTY) and Dr Kovac from ER! The film was inspired by the true story of ITV news reporter Michael Nicholson, who after months of reporting on the siege of Sarajevo, smuggled a child out of the city and adopted her. 

In formal cinematic terms its not the best movie you will ever see.  However, it does contain some interesting footage filmed at the time of the conflict.  The first half of the movie is pretty slow, although it does pick up in the second half. 

One of the key messages of the film is that the war does not end when it is declared to be over.  The consequences of conflict remain and rebuilding the rule of law and security remains a hard battle.  Another issue that the film focuses on is the ethnics of journalism.  Watchdog or sensationalists? For recent academic work in this field check out Daniel Joyce and the 'Mediatisation of International Law'.  

Enjoy.