Film Review
Title: Milosevic On Trial
Director: Michael Christoffersen
Film Length: 68:21

HOT DOCS Milosevic On Trial WEBSITE  

4 ½ Stars

Reviewed by Kristiana Barber (Calgary Correspondent - Canada) 

Last summer I spent six months living in the Czech Republic and traveling through out Eastern and Western Europe. I had the opportunity to see many historic sites, eat new and different types of dishes and meet interesting people in over ten different countries. Along the way I was repeatedly told I should make my way to Croatia; where the beaches are apparently some of the best in the world. It is strange now to think of Croatia as a tourist destination when it was not so long ago ravaged by the affects of a civil war that left hundreds of thousands murdered, terrorized and displaced. Although time has worked hard to rebuild not only Croatia, but an entire region devastated by brutal wars, it is important to remember the horrific events which occurred and try to gain some understanding of the motivations which dominated at the time. Perhaps it is understanding that could be the key to preventing such inhumanities from being carried out in the future. 

It is the possibilities presented by remembrance and understanding which make documentaries such as Milosevic On Trial so important for audiences to see. In Milosevic On Trial director Michael Christoffersen and his crew follow the events of Serbian leader and Yugoslavian leader Slobodan Milosevic's United Nations International Criminal trial in which he was charged with genocide and complicity in genocide, breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and crimes against humanity. The trial lasted four years from 2002 to 2006 and ended without a verdict following the death of Milosevic from a heart attack on March 11, 2006.  The film follows many of the key players in the proceedings such as English prosecutor Geoffery Nice, Milosevic's legal advisors and even to some extent the actions and reactions of Milosevic himself. As well, the audience has the opportunity to hear clips of testimony from some of the trial witnesses. With over 300 witnesses participating in the span of four years, Christoffersen and his team do a wonderful job of showcasing a variety of diverse perspectives including victims of the violence and bloodshed, United Nations employees, another leader also charged with war crimes, a peace negotiator, and Serbian nationalists. The individuals portrayed help focus the films emphasis on the burden of proof necessary for a conviction; as well as the constant battle between the time it takes to present each piece of evidence versus the time constraints of the trial itself.

Although the majority of the footage presented is from the courtroom or interviews of the trial participants, there are some videos shown which boldly demonstrate the brutality of the war. Such clips are extremely graphic; one of which allows the viewer to see the horrific execution of a group of prisoners. Mr. Nice defends the decision to show the video during the trial as an honest portrayal of the realities of what happens in a war. Indeed the video and the entire documentary address not only these harsh realities but also the need and dilemma of assigning responsibility to those involved in the root of wartime violence.  

Milosevic On Trial leaves the audience with many questions about the powers and the ideologies that work to divide both people and nations; the inhumanity of humanity; and exactly who is to blame for the atrocities committed during times of war. In the end there are more questions then answers, but each question is one that should be seriously considered if we are ever to learn from the horrors of the past. Milosevic On Trial is a thought provoking film that gives a voice to the consequences of war, and hopefully to the motivation for peace and understanding in the future.