Documentary film “the Breath of Life” by Snjezana Brezo, inspired by the deaths of Banjaluka babies in 1992, which is one of documentary films produced in BiH which received the most awards, was presented on Saturday evening in the Arie Livne Jewish Cultural Centre in Banjaluka. Because of the land and air blockade, the Banjaluka Hospital ran out of oxygen, which was of crucial importance for newborn babies, and airplane with oxygen bottles stood for days at an airport in Belgrade waiting for a permission from the UN to take off.
The hero of the documentary is boy Marko Medakovic, the only surviving baby, who cannot walk or talk, which is the consequence of the lack of oxygen in the first moments of his life.
Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik said that Republika Srpska is on the side of the truth and that it cannot happen that the truth will not win.
“The fact that world powers did it in the first month of the conflict in BiH speaks about their true intentions to demonise the Serbian people regardless of the horrific situation regarding the victims,” Dodik said.
According to him, it is obvious that the UN was a side in the conflict against Serbs and that for them, everything was a “legitimate target.”
“I think that no one can remain indifferent to this film, regardless of their ethnic affiliation, and if they are indifferent, then they are not human beings,” Dodik said.
He said that the making of a feature film about this event is needed, as is the making of a movie about the Ustashe Jasenovac concentration camp.
The screenwriter and director of the documentary, Snjezana Brezo, said that this is another testimony about the sufferings of the Serbian people and all peoples in this area.
“For me, as the author, the mission of the film is more important than awards, which is to present the truth about the sufferings of my people,” Brezo said.
She expressed gratitude to the Republika Srpska Radio-TV, which produced the documentary, the Republika Srpska President and other institutions for their support.
Film critic Bozidar Zecevic, of Belgrade, said that Republika Srpska by this film did something which no country in this area did when it comes to a film.
“I did not have a defence against this film, he provoked in me forces which exist outside the profession. Nothing is imaginary in this film, everything in it is real,” Zecevic said.
He said that this film shows an absolute talent, as it is leading us to the terrible world in a dramatic way.
“Every reminder of Marko Medakovic is a new reminiscence and this film will never stop being current. Does Republika Srpska have the strength to make a feature film which will impress the world?” asked Zecevic.
The documentary entitled “The Breath of Life” won the first prize at a festival in Dublin, the first prize at the Vigil of Jakov Orfelin Festival in Sremski Karlovci, the Stecak of Knez Pavle award at the First Frame Festival in Istocno Sarajevo, Grand Prix in Velika Plana, an award for special quality of the author’s work, the “Beauty of Differences,” at the Profest Festival in Backa Topola, the Silver Shepard award at the Homolje Motives Festival in Kucevo, the Sedrik Delier Charter, and the Golden Diploma Award at the Bratina Festival in Moscow.
The head of the Republika Srpska Representative Office in Israel, Arie Livne, the first Speaker of the Republika Srpska Parliament, Momcilo Krajisnik, the Republika Srpska Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Stevo Mirjanic, the director of the Republika Srpska Directorate of Religions, Dragan Davidovic, and representatives of the media, cultural and public life, attended the presentation of the film.
Source: SRNA
