SIFF Sighting: CHILDREN OF SARAJEVO (drama; Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Rahima (Marija Pikic) is a young, hard-working cook in Sarajevo. She and her brother Nedim (Ismir Gagula) were orphaned during the war and now she is responsible for taking care of him. He doesn't make it easy on her.

Though there is evidence of him being bullied, Nedim doesn't handle matters well, frequently engaging in bloody fights and getting reprimanded at school.

He blames Rahima's recent need to wear a headscarf as the reason for his troubles; she has frequent flashbacks to the war, which he is too young to remember, that fuel her faith.

The documentary footage of the actual war, spliced in as her memories, are especially powerful contrasted with the sounds of celebratory fireworks, which remind her of the grenades and sounds of war. Though the city has recovered, there are scars that will never heal.

Though undeniably bleak, there is hope in this story. Hope that comes from the love of a dutiful sister; hope that comes from the kind neighbors who befriend them and in Rahima's fierce independence.

It's just one more film that forbids us from forgetting the past--and that's a good thing.

CHILDREN OF SARAJEVO screened at the 39th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: TITO ON ICE (documentary; Germany)

A bizarre road trip of a film, Tito on Ice, chronicles the journey of Max Andersson and Lars Sjunnesson as they travel across former Yugoslavia to promote their new comic book: Bosnian Flat Dog. 

The difference between this and any other typical travel is that they make the trip with a mummified Tito Marshall along for the ride.

Presenting this story, the filmmakers not only use footage of their experiences touring buildings hit by snipers, souvenir stores that sell grenade shells, etc.—they also combine the narrative with artistic representations of the tale made from paper, garbage and other materials. This produces a unique animation that somehow feels right at home in the midst of everything else going on.

This documentary won't be for everyone, but it will at the very least make its audience wonder where their eyes will end up next.

TITO ON ICE will screen May 26 & 28 at the 39th Annual Seattle International Film Festival. For tickets, click here.

SIFF Sighting: THE WHISTLEBLOWER (Thriller; Canada)

In the late 90s, U.S. cop Kathryn Bolkovac went to Bosnia to be a human rights investigator.

She uncovered a sex trafficking operation involving many of her peers, which the U.N. was covering up. She was fired for reporting the scandal.

The Whistleblower details this true story with a strong Rachel Weisz as Kathryn, accented with heartbreaking performances from the supporting cast.

It's a solid film, but it takes a while for the pace to gain momentum.

The Whistleblower screened at The 37th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.