User Reviews

How easy is it for desperate youngsters to become dangerous gangsters in a decaying society washed all over by the blood of war? Fairly easy indeed. Rane shows incidents, probably somewhat facts, that took place in Serbia of the war era. Things similar to what you see on this film could happen virtually everywhere, but this film gives a very Yugoslavian feeling to everything. Yugo style mafia, Yugo style murder, and all that. Revolting politicians and their greed are to blame, not only the desperate young men who lose their reasoning while trying to be someone. The film and the casting is overall successful, and it's so very Serbian. I recommend it to anyone who.. well anyone who likes a good film. But don't expect anything American style on this one, as I say it's Yugo to the bone. 9/10.

One of those in UR face, intense, violent pieces that U won't soon forget...tells the story of three youths and how their lives are shaped by their war-torn surroundings...never had any idea that this movie was going to be so RAW...whoa...a cross between "Natural Born Killers" and "Scarface"...

This movie leaves bitter taste in my mouth and soul, like nothing else I've ever seen. This is the story of one whole generation, a kids just few years younger then me (1972), who have grown up in time and place where most of values ware lost. This is a story of one entire nation (my people) falling down to the very bottom and staying there until they lost all their hopes. This is the story about the little people behind the war and politics, as never spoken so far, since it never happened to You. And finally, this is the story about the fifteen year old boys who's biggest chance in the life was to become a criminals... and they took that chance, never regarding for it.

It's the disturbing reality of 2 working class youths in Belgrade: a life of crime. What makes this movie brilliant is that it does not romanticise our young criminals. Around the world, desperate youths turn to crime for survival and status elevation. We have it in South Africa. City of God tried to show it as it is in Brazil, but Rane has managed to capture the heart of it all. Humour and sincerity are at the heart of this film's success. It's powerful.

And the television show in the movie, where they interview criminals as heroes is not fantasy. This TV show was broadcast in reality. It's a weird world, but it is our world. Each moment of this film, you wonder if you should close your eyes, you anticipate something bad. Yet, I was totally inspired afterwards.

This is the best gangster movie I saw since Scarface. It tells the story of two teenagers growing up in the anarchy of the post Berlin wall Eastern Europe. The movie's narration is so slick that it only proves that Dragojevic(Preety Villages, Preety Flames) is one of the best European directors.

In this film you'll see the sort of things you see when you quick-empty a bottle of vodka and then go and start a civil war. And blow up a whole country and all that. Shocking cinema for the movie-goer, in-you-face history for the social scientist type, bad memories for those that lived through it. Kids growing up to be gangsters in the post-Yugoslav hood. Sanctions-busting crime and normal crime are their path of socialization in the new and uncharted world, where TV crime shows will give them some patterns to follow, but since they're not the faint of heart, they'll soon make their own rules.

It would be 10 out of 10 as a gangster movie, yes, but it's 10 out of 10 in many other genres as well. Cruelly satirical blends with insightfully revealing in the portrayal of the era. As our lead characters go out of control, they present you with the uncontrollable dynamics of post-Yugoslav reality, that were beyond the point of no return before most realized. There is the whole story of the former Yugoslavia in the interactions. And the film, typically for its hellishly dark style, even proposes its own very special cure that no UN-sponsored mediation training will ever teach as one to be followed, I'm sure.

Srdan Dragojevic does it again! After "We are not Angels" and "Pretty Villages, Pretty Flames" he wrote and directed another masterpiece. This is one of the best gangster movies I saw. What makes it even stronger is the fact that Beograd underworld really looked like that between 1992 and 1997. Someone who isn't familiar with the situation in Serbia during those years of sanctions might think that some things in the movie are exaggerated but they are not. This movie makes fun of everything. From former Yugoslavia to todays Serbia, from Tito to Milosevic and whole situation in Serbia during those years. Actors are great, especially Dusan Pekic (Pinki) and Milan Maric (Svaba). I hope that people across Europe and USA will get a chance to see this movie.

This is another of a number of post Titoist Yugoslav films that deals with tragedy of the Yugoslav Split from 1991 to 1996. In the spirit of Underground, Lepo Selo Lepo Gore, and more recently Bure Baruta; the film makers use a very dark form of humour to state their disatisfaction with the times and the system of that period in the capital of Belgrade.

Like the other films, a thorough understanding of the Serbian mentality and the background to the events of 1991-1996 is crucial in making sense of many of the themes and images seen in the film. This probably a bad facet of this film for a lack of understanding by the viewer paints the picture of the Serbs even darker than it actually is.

The viewer should also keep in mind that Belgrade is not a fair and complete reflection of Serbia and the Serbian people as would the rediculous idea that Paris is a reflection of France. This would have to be one of the biggest criticism that can be and should be aimed at the current school of Serbian producers, directors and writers.

Since I'm quite familiar with the Serbian nation and their people, I can just paid credit to the director for a perfect direction of a perfect movie that's based on a pure reality showing every detail without any exaggeration at all. I already watched the movie several times and I'd watch it over and over again without being bored even a minute. The movie itself shows how the life was in the ex-Yu (Belgrade) and I have to give credit to Pinki's father who in my opinion was the best actor alongside Kure, for brilliantly playing the role of a redundant officer, reflecting his huge disappointment towards the government for releasing him from his duties and for never being able to enjoy "his five minutes", despite committing himself 100% to the army in his entire life. I guess that was just one of so many disappointments shown during the movie and there are so many more things which unfortunately could not be shown in the movie, apart from the battles between the Serbian and croatian forces in the short sequence that was shown on TV. That was maybe one of the reasons that the people of Serbia hardly knew what was going around their country and what their government had been up to, while the queues for buying bread were miles long... as it's shown in the movie. Once again credit to the director, crew and especially the actors for performing at the highest level possible.

It was alright . A typical cliche gangster film , however what makes it stand out is its setting( in wartime Serbia during 1990s) from that there is plenty of politics and societal insights . At times this films seems almost too goofy to be taken seriously . The two main characters are quite flat and 2 dimensional , we don't a really get a chance to see there personality develop beyond there cartoon transformation into baby mobsters , there is not the same level of introspection as films such as the Russian gangster film Brat which really are driven by both characters inner and outer worlds ,(music being one of the main themes)

The movie is excellent, it's a pure reality! What's more, i think that these a******s from RTS ( Serbian TV and radio broadcast ( controled by Milosevic )) didn't even knew that they were digging the grave for themselves when they have invested the money in the movie! I want to say that "The Wounds" are the best movie recorded in Yugoslavia last year, and that everything in it is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God!

This is a movie that portrays the specific turbulent times in Serbia between two wars, one fought in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the other one, more devastating for this country, on Kosovo. In particular, this story is about two boys caught in vacuum of harsh reality and world of fantasy, where most of their generation wanted to have money in quicker ways, trough crime and fast life. This sounds like an intriguing plot.

However, the downside of this movie is that this is a typical film of director Srdjan Dragojevic, where he creates some kind, of ,,make-up'' reality and even to a certain extent, compels the viewer to admiration of these tragic figures who have marked an inglorious period in the history of this unfortunate country. As a citizen of Belgrade, I think the film shows shallow picture of that crime world and humor is crude. Most certainly Serbian cinematography has a lot of better examples of those kind of movies.

For a better understanding of those times, I recommend the documentary film called: ,,See you in the obituary'' or ,,Vidimo se u čitulji'' on Serbian. There you won't find cheesy phrases and moments which abound Dragojevic's movie.

Take `The Clockwork Orange', add `Trainspotting', add `Once Upon a Time in America'...Throw away all the cinema glamour. Add harsh reality. I do not know what you will get as a result and I can't promise you it will be something good. But if you are Srjan Dragoevic, you will get `Rane' and it will be breathtaking.

I've watched tonns of various movies - & felt like nothing could impress, thrill or shock me - till I've discovered Yugoslavian/postYugoslavian cinema. Black humor. Real passion. Authentic - might be the best definition. The characters are a l i v e and you just wonder how the director managed to put so much pieces of real life inside the picture. What other cinema schools tried to archieve through `experiments' - like Dogma for example - that is to say by inventing boarders, limits & rules for itself - those Yugoslavs did or do by working in often ordinary, may be even classic way - and the main trick is that they seem to have no boarders! The movies I've watched were dark but still they never lacked `lust for life'. Yugoslavian cinema seems to have national specific but always keeps in mind the best examples of European/American cinema. Almost all listed above refers to `Rane'. Mix `Trainspotting' with `Clockwork orange' add a little bit of `Once upon a time in America' & put it on the streets of Belgrade of the nineteth...Take two teenagers who do not know any reality except hatred, violence, crime & poverty - and put them inside the story. One of the most bizzare things for me was - how it reminds the Russia of the early ninteth - rapid inflation, depression & political madness. Two main characters are the guys from my area. It makes me wonder - why former Yugoslavian directors managed to make a number of brilliant movies - trying to expalin what is happening - during extremely hard times - while Russia hadn't already produced even a single good & honest movie about what is happening in Chechnya? Well may be one or two but it is still doubtfull. That's a shame.

The Serbian version of Scarface. The translation is accurate most of the time, however understanding the language definitely makes for a more live presentation. In my opinion it suffers somewhat from a low budget yet still manages to impress with screenplay and the gruesome reality it shows. Ulike Scarface many stories such as this one unfolded amongst Serbian youth. Even today the sings of war haven't vanished. Present is the poverty driven human mind on the look out for a better tomorrow. The same state of mind that influenced this picture is still visible on our streets. As time passes by the situation improves but our youth still grow up in ghettos, wanting out of the trap. Simply put it is a masterpiece.

One of best movies ever made. Don't hesitate, just watch it.

Movie on a funny way describes wounds of post Tito generations, describes the disintegration of society and the state system.

''Rane'' (The Wounds in English) is a great movie by the best film director in Serbia, Srdjan Dragojevic. The plot is set in Belgrade, Serbia during the chaotic wars in the 90s and shows a path of an adolescent who grows in those times of craziness. Crime, dysfunctional moral values, hate and the need to be in charge are on the rise. It is also an excellent timetable of the events, starting from the Croatian War of Independence, Bosnian War and the Student strikes in Serbia against Milosevic's repressive regime. The talent of Srdjan Dragojevic is how he mocks the prejudices of certain people groups and certainly his courage to makes films that are so liberal in the environment that was mostly hyper-nationalistic and traditional. Highly recommend.

The lowest humour imaginable coupled with scenes of gratuitous violence, posing as satire. But it isn't. It's a cheap exploitation film with plenty of juicy garbage for audiences willing to gobble it up. Not a hint of artistic ambition here. People who love this film simply enjoy the violence and the revolting humour in it, and not even they would honestly say they enjoy some satirical message in it. If they were honest. I mean, what satire is there? That hooligans who would have ended up in street gangs anyhow got an opportunity to take it to an even higher level in the 1990s? That society was in agony? Well, we know that. But none of us were criminals or even wanted to be criminals. The fate of these two teenagers does not speak to me in any meaningful way. I had entirely different concerns back in the 1990s. And then there is that revolting trope that the urban 'elite' in Belgrade still loves to push, namely that the war in Yugoslavia was nothing but an opportunity for criminals to get rich. For the director of this film, none of the brave volunteers who died or got crippled in the war exist. Only a criminal who looted a village and picked up a Versace suit at someone's home. How disrespectful and how cynical is that? This film reeks of cynicism, while trying to present itself as a moral story in which we ought to feel sorry for the protagonists. No, this film feels sorry for no one. It revels in brutality, cynicism, and lowly humour. And it has the nerve to insist it is 'satire'...

Srdjan Dragojevic dedicates his film 'The Wounds' to "post-Tito generations," and it can be seen as of a piece with his previous film 'Pretty Village, Pretty Flame,' an allegory concerning the Bosnian conflict that was one of the angriest, most jarring anti-war films I've seen. 'The Wounds' is an even more aggressive film, told in non-linear fashion, like 'Pretty Village,' beginning in 1996, coiling five years back in time, and progressing to its starting point, so that the events that follow from thereon have an even greater immediacy. The storyteller is a young man named Pinki, born on the day of Marshal Tito's death, named such because his father was arrested after naming him "Tito" -- in honor of the fallen leader, but interpreted by authorities as an insult.

Pinki and his pal Kraut idolize a gangster known as Dickie, who lives in the same housing project. Dickie, an impulsive sociopath who carries a gun at all times and fires it into his television set at random, takes them under his wing and grooms them to become violent criminals. The film, by this point, may begin to remind a viewer of 'GoodFellas,' or the more current 'City of God,' from Brazil. But while those films were stylistically bold, this film is stylistically outrageous. Srdjan Dragojevic slings acid in the face of the viewer, forever surprising his audience with uncompromising nastiness. One does not grow inured to the shocks, however, because the shocks have poetry and relevance, and the movie is tremendously entertaining. This is very exciting filmmaking, the likes of which dwarfs recent work from American filmmakers like Scorsese and Tarantino. Furthermore, it's probably better than anything else from the arguably competitive recent spate of films from the former Yugoslavia, all of which yield a collective cry of anger in the face of the Bosnian civil war, the social conditions of that region, and the region's recent history.

Like other Yugoslav films, 'The Wounds' employs a burlesque tone in its depiction of sexuality, violence, social revolt, and family strife, and yet it does so with such conviction that the movie becomes hypnotic. It would be satire, except its anger is so palpable. It would be allegory, except its writing is so vivid. Whatever it is, it's not easily forgotten.

This film was my first exposure to life in Serbia – to life on a battlefield – after society and its rules have deteriorated to dust. Right and wrong yield to anarchy and savagery. It reminded me of William Golding's Lord of the Flies. At the end of the day, under the right circumstances, base human behaviors creep out. Morality comes from our environment. When civilization standards fall, values are lost. Citizens will degrade their fellow citizens to improve their own security, doing whatever they have to do. In Wounds, the surviving behavior emerges in the celebrated lifestyle of a gangster.

Pinki's narration is straight from the gut. He's 20 something at the end, and thinks of himself as an old man. The way he and kraut do the things they do, you just know they could get away with it.

It's a well told, thoroughly enjoyable Tour d'anarchy. Gruesome but real. 8.5 / 10.0

Dark, bleak, hopeless, harsh, uncompromising, periodically injected with black humor, but overall quite powerful - Srdjan Dragojevic's follow-up to "Pretty Village, Pretty Flame," weaves a tragic coming of age story in Yugoslav capital Belgrade during the turbulent 90's with all the sharp cultural, social, political references and critique one could ask for. This film actually fits more along the lines of "Cabaret Balkan," except that "Rane" has this gangster twist to it. Among the supporting actors I noticed a lot of familiar faces such as Miki Manojlovic, Dragan Bjelogrlic, Branca Katic, Nikola Kojo, who you may be familiar with from films like "Underground," "Black Cat, White Cat," above mentioned "Pretty Village, Pretty Flame" and "Cabaret Balkan" and such. Definitely recommended if you are interested in Serbia/Yugoslavia or Serbian film making.

It's a shame there is no U.S. distribution yet. I got a chance to see this film at the SF film fest and it was brilliant. It definitely has some elements of Scarface along with a coming of age story of a boy in a war torn country. This film Rules!