Nikola Kojo Movies
- 2007
Upon awakening from a two month-long coma to discover that his family has been slaughtered and he was on the verge of death, a man with total amnesia sets out to solve the mystery of his tragic past in this psychological thriller from director Dejan Zecevic. There was a bullet fired at point blank range, and then darkness. But now the blanket of shadows has been lifted to reveal an even deeper mystery. Informed that his family has been slain by a man named the Colonel, who claims to have been his best friend, the disoriented amnesiac discovers that he was formerly a Major of the Military Security Agency. Later, when an inspector from the State Security Agency appears claiming to have information about the murder of his family, the Major realizes that in order to confront the emptiness and despair that have come to define his existence, he must play the "game" that Inspector has set up for him and discover the identity of the assassin who stole his past. But the Businessman, the Mafioso, and the Politician are only the beginning, because after he realizes that he was a war criminal, he discovers that there was a fourth man. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nikola Kojo, Dragan Petrovic, (more)
- 2004
The tragedy of the war in Bosnia makes way for the humor and compassion of people living their lives under difficult circumstances in this comedy drama from filmmaker Emir Kusturica. In 1992, war is brewing in Bosnia, but the city fathers in the town of Golobuci are going ahead with their plans of building a railroad line they hope will bring more visitors into the city. Luka (Slavko Stimac), who is in charge of the construction project, lives with his wife, Jadranka (Vesna Trivalic), a former musician who is suffering from manic depression, and his son, Milos (Vuk Kostic), a talented soccer player who dreams of turning pro some day. After Jadranka has an especially severe episode, Luka takes her to the hospital, where he meets Sabaha (Natasa Solak), a Moslem nurse who quickly develops a nonprofessional interest in Luka. As the clouds of war appear on the horizon, Milos is drafted into the army and Jadranka runs away, and after Sabaha is left with no place to go, she's sent to Luka's place by his friend Aleksic (Stribor Kusturica), where she quickly takes over as both housekeeper and bedmate to Luka. Zivot Je Cudo (aka Life Is a Miracle) was screened in competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Slavko Stimac, Natasa Solak, (more)
- 2000
A blood-saturated thriller about a ruthless contract killer and the couple he takes hostage, The Mechanism opens as Mak (Nikola Kojo), the assassin in question, embarks on his next job with his dim protege Debeli (Gordan Kicic) in tow. Schoolteacher Snezana (Ivana Mihic, who also produced) and taxi driver Janko (Andrej Sepetkovski) have the misfortune to cross paths with Mak; after raping Snezana and mocking Janko, the killer forces them to accompany him on a spree of random violence and bloodshed. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nikola Kojo
- 2000
Billed as "a warm human story about bombings and basketball," director Ljubisa Samardzic spins this feel good sports drama set in Belgrade during the height of NATO's air campaign against Yugoslavia in the spring of 1999. Former basketball star Kaja (Nebojsa Glogovac) struggles not only with daily destruction and the constant threat of being drafted, but also with his impending divorce from his wife Tijana (Anan Sofrenovic), who wants to emigrate to Italy with their five-year-old son. Kaja's buddies aren't doing much better. War veteran and tattoo artist Zuba (Nikola Kojo) is so hard-boiled and world-weary that he would rather hold up in his flat than face the prospect of another war. Turca (Ivan Jevtovic) fled the horrors of Sarajevo only to relive them in Belgrade, and Siske (Nikola Duricko) is constantly berated by his embittered father. While hanging out and sharing beers one day, they happen upon a scheme to clear a detritus-strewn basketball court and get a little exercise. This film was screened at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nebojsa Glogovac, Ana Sofrenovic, (more)
- 1999
Serbian cartoonist turned director Djordje Milosavljevic creates this darkly comic psychological thriller that makes subtle references to the political madness of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Nemanya (Dragan Micanovic) leads a normal life with a steady job and a fiancée, until he is waylaid by a sudden downpour in a seedy hotel called The Wheel. The hotel is populated by seemingly upstanding citizens, until the Nemanya is accused of being the notorious Laughing Monster, a serial killer who has been terrorizing the neighborhood. Nemanya is forced to fend off increasingly violent and bizarre attacks from the hysterical, xenophobic locals until events turn truly horrific. Milosavljevic deftly creates a tone of intense fear while exploring the individual capacity for violence and the banality of evil. Tockovi was screened at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dragan Micanovic, Anica Dobra, (more)
Srdjan Dragojevic directed this Serbian-French drama about life in war-torn Belgrade, as narrated by teen Pinki (Dusan Pekic). In 1996, a stoned Pinki and his pal Kraut (Milan Maric) speed through Belgrade streets as the city celebrates the war's conclusion. A flashback travels to the year 1991 when Pinki and Kraut are into petty crimes, masturbation, and girls. They admire Dickie (Dragan Bjelogrlic), who shows them easy cash and sleek cars. Dickie has his girlfriend Suki (Branka Katic) do a sex demo for the teens. Many local toughs turn up on TV's Street Pulse, hosted by sexy Lidija, and the duo angles for an invite to the show. In 1993, drugs bring on a darker side, evident in full force by 1995. Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dusan Pekic, Milan Maric, (more)
Though cloaked in explosive black humor, the serious anti-war message of this bitterly satirical and politically charged Yugoslav film cuts like shrapnel. Set in Bosnia during 1980 and 1992 (like a pendulum, the time frame swings back and forth), and allegedly based upon a true story, the plot focuses upon the longtime friendship of Muslim Halil, and Serbian Milan. While growing up during the '80s, the two often hung out near an abandoned tunnel. Though curious, the boys were too frightened by the mythical boy-eating ogres said to venture within. The story moves to 1992 and begins as the war between the Serbs and the Muslim ignites in horrible violence and the friends find themselves forced into becoming enemies. Meanwhile, a beautiful American journalist is captured by the Serbs. The film opens with a shot of European and American dignitaries smiling broadly as they inaugurate the new Brotherhood and Unity tunnel that links Zagreb and Belgrade. Later in the film, it will become the scene of horror when Serbian soldiers are trapped by Muslims within. With nothing to do but wait for death, the trapped soldiers amuse themselves by staging allegorical circus acts. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This cynical Serbian comedy features a battle between Good and Evil. The tale centers around a teenage fashion student, Marina and a freewheeling swinger, Nikola. After their one night stand, which he does not remember, the spaced out girl finds herself pregnant. Marina will do anything to con Nikola into marrying her. She enlists her friends to devise a series of crazy plots. Included are scenes of a devil with a nose for coke and rock'n'roll, and an effete angel dancing to '60s tunes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nikola Kojo, Milena Pavlovic, (more)
- 1982
This standard, family comedy is about a divorced mother with a 12-year-old son and how her ex-husband tries to win her back by spreading false rumors about the man she now loves. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ljubisa Samardzic, Boris Dvornik, (more)
