I loved so many shots and frames obviously elaborated in detail in this film. The pace is slow and nice, the play with the feeling of time is perfectly simulating the heaviness of the humid Bosnian summer. I loved how it's so clear how much attention to detail director had, which makes one really respect and appreciate her work, art selection, and all other small things that are about feeding the sensors.
On the other hand, the story has suffered more than expected under this strong artistic vision, which is maybe common for debut films and wish to show so much, breaking the story to fit the eye-pleasing pictures, making it unnecessarily too plotty and expectedly "unexpected". But I am sure that with time, with such a strong talent for the visual and strong attention to detail, this director will grow into a known name of the European festival cinema.
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Filmovore2 December 2019
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jimeneznitay20 June 2020This films is shot beautifully, the director definitely knows how to use color and angles. I wish the story was as engaging as the visuals though. As much as I tried, and even after reading the director's comments about the film, I don't get the message behind it, and it's not appealing to me for numerous reason. The character study is interesting, but not enough. It's a good film, just not my kind of film
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guru-7530 November 2020Balkans is a region of Europe that is most often subject of prejudice and has a series of negative stereotypes attached to it. It is not unusual to see a Western film depicting the "wild East" as a dangerous place, full of thugs and violence, but seeing this comes from someone who was actually born down there makes it strange.
Yes, the director obviously wanted to make it a stylization, what with all the instagram-like colors and framing, but it still is very much referring to an existing place (Bosnia) and the main character shares some biography with the director.
She is a Bosnian girl who grew up in the Netherlands and feels more Dutch than Bosnian. As her father lies on the deathbed she goes back to her "homeland", realizing she doesn't really belong there. She embarks on a road trip which leads us through a series of caricatures of Bosnian culture, mentality, economy etc. Everything is there: local peddlers trying to get into the panties of Western European tourists, local politicians trying to get into the panties of young girls by getting them drunk, ex-prostitute turbo folk singers butchering the cultural legacy of Yugoslavia, cheap cars, drugs, violence, late trains and rude ticket vendors...
Except for the motherly attitude the prostitute-singer adopts towards her, more or less everyone is treating her real bad throughout the film. It makes me wonder is this really the experience Ena had back in her home country?
Towards the end of the film they take empty chairs on a beach out-of-season and some guys appear to beat them up just because they used their chairs. It's so contrived and over-the-top, while also inaccurate, as the actors she used are for some strange reason Serbs. So you have Serbs beating up Bosnians on the Croatian/Bosnian seaside? Unless this is some kind of political statement...
Speaking of political, there's tons of keywords that can make this film extremely easy to finance and pitch, so it doesn't surprise me it's been here and there. You just say that it's a film about how a young immigrant girl faces the brutality of the male-dominated world of what used to be her homeland and you've got it going. The fact that it is all done in a very superficial and blunt way makes no difference.
The acting was okay, which is the only part that keeps this film together (unless you're a fan of contrived shots composed in a way that seems to have come out of a hipster commercial photo shoot). -
I will try to give a realistic critique of this movie. I believe that some of the negative things about Bosnia and Herzegovina in this movie can be irritating to someone who lives there. But I also live in Sarajevo and I watched the film at the 2019 Sarajevo Film Festival. It must be admitted that most things are presented exactly as they are. Many situations and sequences could make me laugh even. Of course, there are so many positive things in my country that have not been shown in the movie, as well as the negative. But the purpose of this movie is not a tourist presentation or something like that. There are a few things I don't like too, but however, every movie is fiction, right? Anyone who has watched multiple types of movies (not just usual blockbusters or savory telenovelas) knows exactly what I'm talking about. On the contrary with some of the comments written here, the landscapes in Bosnia and Herzegovina are presented quite realistically. One part is hilly, forested, green and a little wild (Bosnia).. Second part is rocky and dry but picturesque and with nice landscapes too (Herzegovina). Not sure what's in dispute about this?! The movie has great value in the way it is made. For me, that's the strongest side of this movie. The frames and photography are excellent. A lot of care was taken about framing. The acting is correct. In the movie, I recognize the influence of Aki Kaurismäki, Jim Jarmusch, maybe even Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch. The movie is not too long. it holds the attention all the time. Of course, I like some aspects of the movie more than others. That is why my rating is not the highest possible. Movie has been successful at many festivals, and I belive Director (this is her first feature movie) is probably ready for various criticisms which will help her in further work. Not perfect movie, but certainly worth the attention!
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nemamkredita24 August 2019As much as i wanted to enjoy it, it was horrible man... plot doesn't make sense whatsoever, the ending is dumb, bosnia is shown as if it's some hole and not an actual country, the only thing i got from the movie is that norwegian girls are "easy" which is just stereotyping at it's best!! the director obviously thinks that more artsy scenes =the better movie and that's what made movie suck even more. so much unnecessary scenes (for example the scene in woods, tf was that?) and every scene is too long. acting wasn't that bad but the characters were all annoying. in conclusion, wasted 1h and 30 minutes of my life
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gsievert18 October 2019Road movies don't necessarily need to cross the United States. This one is heading East or rather: cross-crossing the Balkans, or parts thereof. An exploration of a country, coming of age, and ambient landscapes. It reminded me of Lynne Ramsay's brilliant Morvern Callar (2002) somewhat, and that's good company. Not your typical road movie or coming of age story then, and a strong debut by Eni Sendijarevic.
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zenicaninjomu19 August 2019If you want wrong picture about Bosnia and Herzegovina, just watch this movie. I can understand if someone who is not from Bosnia make a lot mistakes, but direktor Ena is Bosnian. In this movie, our capital Sarajevo is empty, Mostar is hole, our nature is fried and dry, people don't have life, we don't use credit cards, we are not polite and we don't like familly, we don't like guests... This movie is just mistake and I don't want anyone to take this movie as true fact. I watched this movie at Sarajevo film festival, and I couldn't beleive that organisator put this movie in program. Only one good thing in this movie is acting. Everything else is disaster.
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ValeaIelelor26 May 2020I understand people from Bosnia are not much into it, but the same happens with Romanian movies too. I guess it's because they try to capture a story rather than facts. And I liked this story. I liked the way it was told, the acting and the characters. I don't regret for one second watching it, but I'm aware I can't find someone to recommend it to. My tastes are quite peculiar, and this is the word to describe Take Me Somewhere Nice. There's place for better, but that's a universal issue. Still, I love the setting, and even if it's not that accurate, I don't mind that. A great part of what Eastern Europe means was there. As a side note, from what I read, Bosnia sounds a lot like Romania. To conclude, I'd add it to my favourites list. One thing I didn't get. Where is she keeping her phone?