The Weight of Chains (2010) on Netflix
NR20102h 5mDocumentaryHistory
A documentary examines the part the United States, NATO and the European Union played in Yugoslavia's breakup. Diplomats, economists and citizens of the former republics describe the conflict.
- Netflix3.9/5
- IMDb8.1/104,642 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes86%
Trailer
Plot summary
The film sets out Yugoslavia's background, touching on the Battle of Kosovo in the Middle Ages, Kosovo's entry into the Kingdom of Serbia in 1912, and the socialist federation Josip Broz Tito built after World War II. It discusses Serbs in Kosovo who were persecuted after the Second World War. From there it argues that U.S. interests pushed a market-oriented Yugoslav economy, naming the National Endowment for Democracy and G17 Plus, and that Western nations backed separatist groups so NATO could be installed as peacekeepers. Yugoslav leaders such as Slobodan Milošević, Franjo Tuđman and Alija Izetbegović, it claims, pursued power rather than their people's welfare, and local media helped turn opinion toward conflict. Among those interviewed are the widows of Josip Reihl-Kir and Milan Levar, and the film recalls Srđan Aleksić, who saved a Muslim friend from VRS soldiers.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about The Weight of Chains (2010)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Boris Malagurski's documentary was pulled from the programme of Emir Kusturica's Küstendorf Film and Music Festival in 2011, two days before the festival opened, and no explanation was given.
- In June 2012 about 200 people demonstrated outside Radio Television Serbia demanding the film be broadcast. Malagurski said RTS director Aleksandar Tijanić had told him it could not air because Happy TV had shown it already, which Malagurski disputed, saying only clips had been broadcast.
