Serbia and Montenegro/France Emir Kusturica (Underground) returns with another exuberant cinematic tapestry, direct from its place in Official Competition at Cannes. Shot through with copious amounts of wine, song and dancing, this bittersweet tale of star-crossed lovers is a 'boisterous bear hug of a movie'. (Screen International),p>Bosnia 1992. Luka, an engineer from Belgrade, has installed himself in a sleepy village in the middle of nowhere with his opera singer wife, Jadranka, and their son, Milos. Luka is preparing to build the railroad that will transform the region into a tourist's paradise. Utterly engrossed in his work and blinded by natural optimism, Luka remains deaf to the increasingly persistent rumblings of war.

When the conflict explodes, Luka's life is turned inside out; Jadranka disappears on the arm of a musician while Milos is called to the front. Ever optimistic, Luka waits for his family to return, but matters take a turn when the Serbian army appoints him guardian of Sabaha, a Muslim hostage. Before long, Luka falls in love with Sabaha but the young woman is destined to be handed over in exchange for a Serbian captive'Milos.

'swirling, sprawling, brawling and caterwauling' Kusturica keeps the action in perpetual, cacophonous uproar.' -The Guardian

D Emir Kusturica P Alain Sarde, Maja Kusturica, Emir Kusturica S Ranko Bozic, Emir Kusturica WS Wild Bunch L Serbian, Bosnian, English, German w/English subtitles TD 35mm/Col/2004/154mins

Emir Kusturica was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1954. Films include: Time of the Gypsies (1989), Arizona Dream (MIFF 1993), Black Cat, White Cat (MIFF 1999).