A chaotic, tragicomic carnival of history where magical realism meets war-torn Yugoslavia. Through a surreal lens, it explores betrayal and illusion in a cellar that becomes a metaphor for a country disconnected from reality.

Underground

Подземље

"ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A COUNTRY"

13 May 1995 Yugoslavia 170 min ⭐ 7.7 (751)

Director: Emir Kusturica

Cast: Predrag 'Miki' Manojlović, Lazar Ristovski, Mirjana Joković, Slavko Štimac, Ernst Stötzner

Drama War Comedy

The Manipulation of History and Truth Plato's Cave and Isolation Fratricide and Civil War Dionysian Vitality vs. Destruction

Budget: $14,000,000

Underground - Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

A war is no war until the brother kills his brother.

— Marko Dren

Context:

Spoken by Marko, highlighting the fratricidal nature of the conflict that destroys the country.

Meaning:

Encapsulates the film's tragic view of the Yugoslav conflict as a civil war where intimate bonds are severed by political hatred.

Bila jednom jedna zemlja. (Once upon a time, there was a country.)

— Ivan Dren

Context:

The closing narration delivered directly to the camera as the island floats away.

Meaning:

Frames the entire film as a fairy tale or a myth, suggesting that Yugoslavia has ceased to exist in reality and now lives only in memory and story.

There is no truth, only your conviction that what you say is the truth.

— Marko Dren

Context:

Marko explaining his philosophy, justifying his manipulation of the people in the cellar.

Meaning:

Summarizes the film's postmodern take on history—that history is written by the victors and those who can maintain the most convincing lie.

💬

View Full Movie Analysis