classicsoncall It's always difficult viewing a foreign film without knowing the country's history and politics, so for a Western audience that includes myself, I don't know if the film carries much resonance. What I did surmise with "Underground" was that it was a surreal blend of historical drama, war time chaos, caustic humor and ribald farce. The central idea seems to be director Emir Kusturica's blunt representation of political chicanery that fools an entire society, along with the corruption that allows certain individuals to thrive at the expense of others. One must suspend enormous amounts of disbelief to accept that a nation secludes itself 'underground' for decades believing a war is still raging on. I found the film to be filled with absurdist dark humor, though for my taste, it often seemed directionless and meandering. My viewing was of the one hundred seventy minute theatrical version, and shudder to imagine what the director's cut of five plus hours would have required in the name of patience and fortitude.

Wim Boeren As it is, the 170 min version, is simply not finished. It goes from one scene to another and seems to be missing a LOT of scenes. The movie and the story lack much needed context. Now, I've read that the original movie was supposed to be about 5 hours long and the director had to cut more then 2 hours. How can you expect to still have a comprehensive movie when you have to cut almost half of the content? There's a 5 hour long mini-series which aired in Serbia. I hope that it becomes available because I can truly imagine this to be a masterpiece... if all the pieces are present that is. As it stands now, there's not much else I can tell you, I don't have enough knowledge about it to truly know what the movie is about.

gavin6942 The story follows an underground weapons manufacturer in Belgrade during WWII and evolves into fairly surreal situations. A black marketeer who smuggles the weapons to partisans doesn't mention to the workers that the war is over, and they keep producing. Years later, they break out of their underground "shelter" --- only to convince themselves that the war is still going on.I know very little about Yugoslavian film, or Serbian film or any other film industry of the region. But this is some great satire here, with the sensibility of Luis Bunuel or those fine folks who made "Delicatessen" and "Amelie" (drawing a blank on their names, sorry). Who knew that war could be funny? This is the sort of war comedy that "Life is Beautiful" could only dream of being.

Vladimir Boskovic Well, as I can see a lot of people had a same experience regarding this movie, you cried and you laughed. To be honest, no major difference in local understanding and experience after watching the film. However, living in a " story" or in the movie script is a bit of a different experience. Most of the people from ex-Yugoslavia or " notorious Balkan" would appreciate some better lives as well as happier history. However, this should not diminish film's brilliant language and its profound overview of man's nature and stupidity of war. Again, knowledge of local language or at least context would bring much more clarity and joy while watching this movie, but as mentioned - this is our problem...A piece of advice for all of my western friends - if the monkey enters the tank, keep your eyes open and try to pull him out at any cost. The country may still be there tomorrow...