Una (1984) User Reviews

By the book

[sobot · 9/10 · 14 April 2012]

If you like movies adapted from books, and especially the ones faithfully adapted, here is a specimen for you. While some may resent the nudity depicted in the film (which I would call "intimacy scenes" rather than "erotic") it is exactly the way things are in Momo Kapor's book.

Sonja Savić IS Una, it is hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Although I never did find her attractive, it is easy to understand why the professor got so attached to her.

My only objection (more on account of the book than the movie) is a sort of black-and-white partition of characters, professor Babić being a know-it-all (about his job, not about love), and the vice-dean being a jealous schemer. On the other hand, the things professor talks about, such as the way one climbs up the ladder in the system, seem to be painfully true.

Recommended!

Disgraceful plot summary

[milancelisac · 10/10 · 27 January 2013]

"A romantic thoughtful interview intended student list entirely changed the lives of two people, professors and eminent students Una. She is beautiful and intelligent, but immature in complicated relationships in which the inflammation, while the man is a professor whose lectures on mass media, most listened to college. Vice Dean of the Faculty manages to intrigue Una retracted into the game with a professor. Thus, one innocent interview turns into a record of life, philosophical and ideological views of the controversial professor, and then the malicious report about his life, behavior, action and movement... Written by Nikola Popovic"

I really do not know how this Mr N. Popovic operates, whether this was his or Google Translate's gem - I do not care, but I do think that this film deserves at least a proofread summary! Otherwise, I totally agree with the other two existing reviews. Una is a MUST!

Only for a selected bunch

[andrejvasiljevic · 9/10 · 22 November 2011]

As time passes, I start to feel like an old wining geezer with talks how everything used to be so much better in the past. Yet, when it comes to Serbian cinematography, that is an unmistakable fact, no matter how old or young you are. "Una" is a finest example of how a novel can be translated into a deep and meaningful motion picture.

The time is in early 1980s and Yugoslavia is still a firmly communist system with a strong central control which spans to all pores of the society. True, some freedoms are available, even ones which are contradictory to the system, yet taking on them too seriously is a dangerous and risky task. The university community is a center of intellectual exchange, where professor Misel Babic, played by Rade Serbezija, tries to hang on all alone with his liberal ideas, which in many ways defy the inert system. Politically undetermined and self excluded from interest groups, Misel is a constant thorn in the eye of both university's leadership and state security alike. That's when the vice dean decides to invade his private life by engaging a young, intelligent and well situated student Una Vojvodic, played by Sonja Savic.

"Una" is a psychological drama which revolves around the secret romance between Una and professor Babic, it's repercussions, which brings out all the best and worst aspects of academic life in communist Yugoslavia. But beside the excellent narrative background of "Una", there are other aspects which bring this film way above the rest. Unlike most of Yugoslavian production of the time, good director's and editor's work is combined with a pretty decent technical outcome. I guess Kodak Eastman Color was used, which was a rare case at the time. Together with brilliant acting performances of all protagonists, "Una" hits the top 10 of Serbian cinematography so far. Unfortunately, like many other good movies, this one is also unjustly forgotten and put aside due to it's educated approach and lack of shiny glamor. But then again, maybe it's better that way. Only the deserving audience has a chance to see it, and appreciate it properly.