Tears for Sale (Carlston za ognjeka) (Uros Stojanovic, 2009): Serbia

Reviewed by Jesse Solomon. Veiwed at the 2009 Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Before the screening of Tears for Sale a film festival employee announced a content warning, for violence and sex, I knew right then and there that I was either going to absolutely hate this movie and walk out, or I was going to totally adore this film.  From the very first scene I knew I loved the film, Uros Stojanovic described his film as an “erotic adult fairytale” he swears that this film is in fact a documentary, because everything that took place in the film happened in Serbia or to someone on the cast.

 Katarina Radivojevic plays the passionate Mala Boginja, while Sonja Kolacaric plays the timid Ognjenka; these two sisters family business is wailing a much-needed profession in this small 1930’s Serbian town. After so many devastating wars in such little time the town is left without any men. For years the women get along fine by drinking spider brandy, a hallucinogenic liquor that helps them remember the old days and gather each day to watch the gathering of grapes, the towns only valued export. Ognjenka and Mala Boginja cannot stand the fact that they will eventually become bitter old spinsters without ever having been held or kissed by a man so they decide to go to the city, kidnap men and return life to their village. Hilarity ensues as they realize this is the goal of every Serbian women, men are so rare that even when they are found they could never be expected to be faithful to just one women, with so many forceful virgins. There is brilliant scene in this film when Mala Boginja realizes the man she has brought to her village is actually her true love and for him she must fight another dark haired temptress, they do so by dancing so passionately that they do not notice they are stepping on broken glass.

If you have ever seen Pans Labyrinth or Amelie and enjoyed the dark humor and bizarre plotlines you will love this film. As said by the director and producer is better not to try to fully understand this film but rather just enjoy it. I thought it was extremely interesting that although this film was not typical of Serbian cinema it was an all time best seller in Eastern Europe, according to Katarina Radivojevican an already well known and respected Serbian actress it was a very different role for her. She said that in Serbia there is little to no variety to the 10 or so lines a lead woman character would usually get, for her to do this movie as the main character was incredibly inspirational and she hoped to do more like it.

 Tears for Sale was my favorite movie of the festival hands down. I have never seen Serbian Film nor have I been to Serbia but after watching this film I will be doing a lot of both soon.