The Balkan Line (2019) User Reviews

Solid action movie

[wardtmar · 8/10 · 9 May 2019]

Whilst it was not the Siege at Jadotville per se, it brought a lot of other qualities to the screen. Some solid acting, albeit a bit more Russian than to my liking (you know, though as nails, wrestling a bear kind) the action sequences were spot on. I also like it very much when violence is unpredictable. It is in real life too. The horror of war lies in its unpredictability, the randomness with which the dead and alive are chosen. The backstories are ok, and yes there is some propaganda and Russian flagwaving in it. Just compare it to some of the American movies where everything is stars and stripes, I always take them with a ton of salt, too.

In war there is no good side, only losers. These heroes are the ones that took a loss too, for their beliefs, their family, their comrades. And everyone can feel for them, for there is a little hero in all of us. And we dream of one day being meaningful, too.

I like this better than the superhero movies of late. This type of film is a bit more mature, grim but not to the point where it gets unbelievable horror. It is a bit unrealistic in it's premises, but so was the fish my neighbour caught the other day. It still made for a great story.

I'm beginning to like Russian cinema, Belly Tigr,from 2012, also had this strange but likable feel. Doom lures, but we live on nonetheless. We accept fate but keep on trying even against all odds. It's a cultural thing, it must be.

Agitprop, But an Actioneer of Brave Men, and Woman, at War

[scott-81536 · 7/10 · 14 September 2019]

P First, I have distant relatives who suffered due to Serbia elsewhere in the Balkans so I am no fan of Serbia. And my eyes hurt, from rolling, at the frequent lies, and revisionism, by all the parties in the Balkans-Serbs most of all. P This movie is no more an accurate account of the real world Pristina Airport I ncident than ZULU was an accurate account of the Battle of Rourke's Drift. Or for that matter the Spanish movie on this conflict, GUERREROS. As with all too many films these days, "The Narrative" is front and center. P What distinguishes this movie is the excellent acting, pretty realistic combat scenes, and the leitmotif of The Last Stand. Strong character development and, unlike in ZULU, the opponents here- the Albanians-have real faces, emotions and lives outside the battle. Plus the line later in the movie when a character observes that of the Magnificent Eight" only one is Russian, the rest are diverse, even two Muslims with the "Eight". Want to watch a documentary-accurate account of the Incident? Skip this one for sure. Want to see a good actioneer that highlights the martial values of loyalty, bravery and honor (for BOTH sides)? The watch this one. Accuracy: 2*; Action:: 8*; Pathos:: 8*.

This is one rare decent russian action movie

[usbboo · 8/10 · 27 May 2019]

This is one rare decent russian action movie. Totally unexpected. It is based on true events and brings you the other side of the story that was never neither heard nor it was listened to. I did digging and fact-checking for some of the movie events that seemed important to me:

• shelling of the maternity clinic by NATO. The event really took place during the NATO campaign.
• storming of the air port. The operation took place although there was more personnel involved (18-23 specnaz + locals). Too bad this is classified and will remain for years.
• illegal organ trade by Albanian guerrillas. Butchering civil serbs and unloyal to guerrillas albanians took place during the conflict.

A plus goes to the serbian actors and the main russian tough guy - I really enjoyed their characters. The fact that the main heroes are not untouchable and also gets wounded and killed is the next thing that I really liked about the movie.

The only thing that I did not like were the conversations. It could have been done better. Also some of the scenes looked quite similar to the '13 hours' - another war movie that I like.

Fantastic Movie!

[imyomomma · 10/10 · 26 August 2019]

Fantastic movie portraying Albanian atrocities they refuse to admit. Don't listen to all the one star reviews, it's Albanian propaganda trying to hid their crimes.

Great to see the other perspective

[dreypetroff · 10/10 · 26 August 2019]

Truly great to see the other perspective than presented in MSM or Hollywood

What a mess!

[MovieIQTest · 6 May 2019]

The fighting scene at the very beginning is so confusing and messy, you don't know who's who, which is which. Then the bombing, well, great special effect, but the bombing at the hospital was just so conveniently happened when the pregnant wife step into the hospital building, but how come the husband was able to find his wife died upstairs and the baby already born? The timing sequence was just so pathetically messy. This film simply was obviously directed and edited in such messy way from the very beginning to the end, the sequence of the scenes....everything was just so messy and confusing with bad acting. Three stars are for the special effect but nothing else. "What a mess!" is my only comment.

Entertaining action drama.

[paulclaassen · 6/10 · 18 December 2019]

Ok, let's start with the positive. The film's photography and visuals are incredible. The cinematography is awesome. The story was interesting enough, and I really cared about the characters. The film has a good antagonist you simply can't help but hate (and boy, did he get what he deserved!)

Now my issues with the film. There are too many characters and therefore also too many back stories. Constant inter-cutting between scenes happening simultaneously was annoying and confusing. (It might be clearer with a second viewing). Showing scenes out of sequence further added to the confusion. There's also a lot of scenes that could - and probably should - have ended on the Cutting Room floor instead. This would have ensured a shorter runtime resulting in a faster paced film.

Based on fact, they just couldn't resist adding a fictional - and dare I say unnecessary - love story. *rolling my eyes*. In the end it was all good, though. The film's final hour is a spectacular thrill ride filled with action and suspense, and great visuals.

I went to the cinema prepared to hate it... but I couldn't.

[Juznjak · 4/10 · 25 March 2019]

From the first look at the trailer, up until I actually watched the movie, I had an impression that I would hate it. I was a 10-year old boy when bombing of my country, Yugoslavia, took place. Everything about these terrible events is painful to watch and remember, mostly because we are reminded how desperate and helpless we all were then. Watching everything around us falling apart, and not being able to do anything about it is a really painful feeling. This movie reminded me of everything. Also, I thought that the movie would be a simple, one-sided propaganda, because trailer showed battles involving Russian soldiers, whereas, in reality, I only remember their convoy leaving Kosovo, and us, Serbs, fighting on our own against really, and I mean REALLY, powerful enemy. Anyway - I actually liked the movie. The level of details - concerts on bridges, writings on walls, the looks, the cities, the atmosphere, everything is as it really was then! Also, the music, the characters, the story - everything is pretty likeable. Shall I also add that this is a first movie I watched where Serbs aren't shown as bad-guys?

The real story

[tomicvidan · 10/10 · 29 August 2019]

This movie shows the other side,the one that has been silenced and it does it really well

Decent action movie

[ogamer2014 · 6/10 · 7 May 2020]

Decent rambo-style action movie with wanna be love story and off course happy ending.

True story? Not really...

[OstrogothCeltic · 1/10 · 3 May 2019]

This is pure propaganda movie that tries to make Russian as some kind of heroes. Truth is Russians didn't fire a single bullet in Kosovo. And this movie is disrespect for every single Serbian that fought there. That's why I don't understand people praising this as a true story, but we ALL KNOW it's just fiction. And no real Serb will ever call this a true story. By doing that you are spitting on every Serbian grave in that war. Over and Out.

Strong movie for strong people

[balde01 · 10/10 · 23 March 2019]

Really good action films are rear on the big screen these days. There are dozens of comics and science fictions with baby plastic pistols and funny unbelievable deaths with no blood and zero realism. Though things are far way worse for Russian cinematography. It is crammed with stupid vulgar comedies and sob-stuff melodramas. If you want to watch normal action film it'll be 99% about the Second World War. So I was totally thrilled to learn that the new 20th century fox film describes twenty-year-old events in Yugoslavia. Moreover, the target audience is adults, not twelve-year-olds. It actually intrigued me. Finally, after watching first trailer I already knew the film's going to be awesome.

It turned out to be right. Balcan line gives us not only with a fresh interpretation of the historical facts of the confrontation between Russia and the NATO countries in Serbia, but also skillfully casts the main character's romantic relationships into the plot, turning one local conflict into a tragedy of all life for them. We sympathize Andrey who is ready to overcome any difficulties in the way of his beloved's salvation. Even if it is heavily armed Albanian terrorists. Unlike other recent Russian war films the romantic line is just a subplot, there are loads of hardcore, action and explosions. Conflict here is bloody and dirty as it was. It worth to be seen.

too long and too much action

[NijazBaBs · 6/10 · 9 April 2021]

This is bit too long and too much action. I expected more tactic, science, and explanation. Bit too much based on luck and unreal, more like video game. Good stunts and graphics. Good presence of vehicles, soldiers, and victims. Bit too political. Would be better if explained more simply, it it was English instead of foreign languages, and if spoken slower. Even as Bosnian I could not understand some of political parts, and find this bit too complicated, unexplained, unfinished. Motivates me to better investigate local history and politics, and to play war video games like Battlefield and Call of Duty. Bit hot girls and emotional, but unfinished.

Great movie

[ivan6830 · 10/10 · 25 August 2019]

This is a great movie about things that happend in war and before and after the war in Kosovo, actually just a little part of it. Maybe Serbs and Russians aren't heroes, but one thing is definitely true, Serbs were just defending they're own piece of territory from the Kosovo Albanians terrorists. The killing and torturing were done by Albanians and by Serbians, but Albanians started the war because they wanted to take over Serbian territory.

Nothing but clean true

[davidbarabas · 10/10 · 6 November 2019]

As a kid who survived NATO bombing '99 Yugoslavia I can only say that anyone who watch this movie will see what we have gone through. They maybe served you other picture on news all over the world, but the real truth lays in this movie. Movie has some hard scenes, be prepared to everything. For brutality and not hiding those scenes I give 9.5 rating. Something that Hollywood will never make.

Waste of time movie

[dritonpupa · 10 May 2020]

Movie full of lies, at the same time historically inaccurate. Narrating the story subjectively, I highly recommend to not waste your time with a movie like this.

Defending against invasion

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 26 July 2022]

Drawing the line - no pun intended. The question is are you going to be able to watch this and suspend your disbelief. Do you understand that Russia is defending honor and rightfulness? Contrary to what is happening right now.

Current events aside - this is a neat and decent little movie about war. But also about what is right and wrong. Something that you should be showing to the current - I said not current situation. Just go with the flow and Russia being heroes - there is propaganda there and cliches. But it is for the right reasons (in this case at least).

Serbian propaganda at its best!

[nolimanxhuka · 1/10 · 21 April 2019]

This movie can show a lot of things, except the truth that took place during the war in Kosovo. A movie totally based on serbian propaganda!!!

A fight for future

[PellyTelly · 9/10 · 24 March 2019]

Balcan line caught my attention with its subject and the storyline description. The film is inspired with the Balcanic military conflict, Kosovo war, the bombing of Yugoslavia and the march to Pristina. Russian task force is ordered take control over the airdrome and wait for arrival of reinforcements under the fire of Albanian terrorists.

As for me the storyline is perfect. We see the events from the different points, in different locations. The narration is smooth. Dynamics increases gradually closer to the ending and tension does not let you go until the final credits.

Atmosphere which is crucial point in this genre is tense. The picture's filled with the pain and suffering of the Serbian people. The confrontation between the Serbs and the Albanians stands by in every glance, in every dialogue. There is drama more than enough. Sometimes it's extremely difficult to watch the film further extremely difficult but still interesting. Somebody may call it too lengthy, but personally I liked the gradual disclosure of the soldier characters, and then the dynamic and spectacular slaughter. In general, the authors allow themselves some artistic nonconformities in one direction or another, this makes the story even more interesting. Should say a word about the actors. Anton Pampushny (Shatay) and Gosha Kutsenko (Beck) are outstanding. Just bravo! Alexander Srechkovich (Smuk) looked great as an antagonist. You start to hate his image almost from the moment his character appears.

To sum up, Balcanic line is ambicious action drama which unexpectedly turned out to be great. However be ready for the oppressive and heavy atmosphere. Several people left the cinema before the middle of the cinema, a few others later. Not because the film was bad. Just the pressure is enormous. If you are highly sensitive, then I advise you to think carefully before watching it.

Factual and good

[cdhunt6282 · 10/10 · 25 August 2019]

Good movie, one hundred percent true. Only zogbot bootlickers would say otherwise. Good goy, your government wouldn't lie to you, would it?

Basic propaganda on the big screen.

[seidcelbeqiri · 1/10 · 22 August 2019]

Most of these events didn't take place. It's pretty blatant that these people are trying to shove the blame away from them when they tried to commit mass ethnic cleansing and genocide, but once stopped, they cry foul.

don't mind the albanians

[nklmrsn · 10/10 · 22 September 2019]

The movie represents the events unfolding prior to the Nato bombing of yugoslavia. it is an other side of the whole story represented by the western media

Historically Accurate

[basedandredpilled · 10/10 · 25 August 2019]

Great movie. Highly recommend it for any one looking to gain more knowledge on the Kosovo War.

Should belong to the fantasy genre

[ncl-arbi-ncl · 1/10 · 22 August 2019]

Probably used for propaganda by serbs and russians, denying provable facts, victimizing serbs and making the Kosovo albanians the bad guys. Turning the tables around would portray the actual truth.

Piece of Truth is Here !

[bossko77 · 10/10 · 23 March 2019]

The film has left a defining impression on the viewers, I would not recommend that the film be watched by the younger ones of the 18th age, and people who are vulnerable to violence. There are a lot of direct scenes of execution.. They were definitely hypersensitive about the content in the film, because it is possible that most of them were witnesses of NATO aggression that year and that their memory's was returned like me as well. The movie as a movie has an interesting story that is also supported by archival footage that was occasionally shot at the end of the movie. As for the acting, it's not too convincing as it is in Hollywood B.blasters, but it's worth of watching.Bad was synchronization of sound in certain characters in the movie. As far as I'm concerned about the pure 10ka for the whole project and the right face of the siptars(Albanian separatist) and NATO at that time without any blinding or exaggeration of the actual events. I hope this film will see the whole world and find out at least a part of the truth about Kosovo!