Underground
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Emir Kusturica
Miki Manojlovic
Lazar Ristovski
Mirjana Jokovic
Slavko Stimac
Ernst Strotzner
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
It is in 1941, when the first German bombs are dropped on Belgrade, that "comrade" Marko, an enterprising businessman, hides a group of refugees in his grandfather's cellar and puts them to work making arms and other objects for him to sell on the black market. Having created an air-tight underground labor camp, Marko preys on the refugees' need for protection. When peace returns, Marko manages to persuade his faithful, but naive accomplice Blacky and their "proteges" that the war is still on. Having already seduced Blacky into living underground for his own "protection," Marko also seduces Blacky's above-ground sweetheart--Natalija, knowing his best friend can't retaliate from underground. In 1944 peace returns, but down in the cellar, life continues as it has been. The Afraid to change the status quo of things, Marko convinces Blacky and the others that there is still a war raging outside, and manages to continue this charade for fifteen years.
Director
Emir Kusturica
Cast
Miki Manojlovic
Lazar Ristovski
Mirjana Jokovic
Slavko Stimac
Ernst Strotzner
Mirjana Karanovic
Milena Pavlovic
Bata Stojkovic
Bora Todorovic
Davor Dujmovic
Nele Karajlic
Branislaw Lecic
Dragan Mikolic
Erol Kadic
Predrag Zagorac
Hark Bohm
Petar Kralj
Emir Kusturica
Pierre Spengler
Branko Cvejic
Josef Tatic
Zdena Hurtecakova
Tanja Kechman
Albena Stavreva
Elizabeta Dorevska
Peter Mountain
Mirsad Tuka
Batica Nikolic
Desa Biogradlija
Zoran Miljkovic
Dusan Rokvic
Radovan Markovic
Miodrag Dordevic
Ljiljana Jovanovic
Danica Zdravic
Stojan Sotirov
Slobodan Salijevic
Boban Markovic
Srdjan Todorovic
Branislav Lecic
Josif Tatic
Dr. Nelle Karajlic
Crew
Jana Adamkova
Karl Baumgartner
Goran Bregovic
Stephanie Brown
Maksa Catovic
Branka Ceperac
Miodrag Dordevic
Vilko Filac
Charlotte Fraisse
Christian Fuin
François Groult
Dominique Hoffman
Romi Hoffman
Zoran Jankovic
Urlich John
Filip Klepl
Miljen Kreka Kljakovic
Ales Komarek
Dusan Kovacevic
Dusan Kovacevic
Jiri Krejeir
Martin Kulhanek
Emir Kusturica
Nebojsa Lipanovic
Miroslav Mandic
Rainer Mockert
Petr Moravec
Jiri Ostry
Michal Povolny
Tonda Prazsky
Marko Rodic
Daniela Romano
Alice Ronovska
Vladimir Seiml
Pierre Spengler
Helen Statman
Sarka Sulcova
Bruno Tarriere
Helena Toth
Roman Tudzaroff
Svetolik Mica Zajc
Petar Zivkovic
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Production halted mid-April and resumed early August 1994.
Completed shooting early winter 1995.
Released in United States Summer June 20, 1997
Released in United States on Video February 9, 1999
Released in United States February 27, 1996 (Shown in New York City (Walter Reade) February 27, 1996.)
Released in United States February 28, 1996 (Benefit screening for the Montreal World Film Festival in Montreal (Imperial Cinema) February 28, 1996.)
Released in United States October 1996 (Shown at AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival (Tribute) October 18-31, 1996.)
Co-winner, along with Ken Loach's "Land and Freedom" (1995/United Kingdom/Spain/Germany), of the Prix Moussinac for Best Foreign Film from the European Film Academy.
Winner of the Palme D'Or at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival. Filmmaker Emir Kusturica, a graduate of FAMU, previously received this coveted award for "When Father Was Away on Business" (Yugoslavia/1985) at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival. Kusturica also received the Best Director Award at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival for "Time of the Gypsies" (United Kingdom/Yugoslavia/1988). And his debut film, "Do You Remember Dolly Bell?" (Yugoslavia/1981), won the Golden Lion award for best first feature at the 1981 Venice Film Festival.
Released in United States Summer June 20, 1997
Released in United States on Video February 9, 1999
Released in United States 1996
Released in United States February 27, 1996
Released in United States February 28, 1996
Released in United States October 1996
Released in United States 1997
Released in United States 1999
Shown at New York Film Festival September 29 - October 13, 1996.
Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival April 24 - May 8, 1997.
Shown at New York Film Festival (Special Event) September 24 - October 10, 1999.
For the 1999 New York Film Festival "Special Event" screening, "Underground" was projected on video, encompassing all five hours and 12 minutes of the original television version.
Began shooting November 8, 1993.
Released in United States 1996 (Shown at New York Film Festival September 29 - October 13, 1996.)
Released in United States 1999 (Shown at New York Film Festival (Special Event) September 24 - October 10, 1999.)
Released in United States 1997 (Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival April 24 - May 8, 1997.)
Winner of the 1997 award for Best Foreign-Language Film from the Boston Society of Film Critics.
