The Weight of Chains is a Canadian documentary film that takes a critical look at the role that the US, NATO and the EU played in the tragic breakup of a once peaceful and prosperous European state - Yugoslavia. The film, bursting with rare stock footage never before seen by Western audiences, is a creative first-hand look at why the West intervened in the Yugoslav conflict, with an impressive roster of interviews with academics, diplomats, media personalities and ordinary citizens of the former Yugoslav republics. This film also presents positive stories from the Yugoslav wars - people helping each other regardless of their ethnic background, stories of bravery and self-sacrifice.
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Reviews
A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.
It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.
Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Terrible. The movie barely touched on key parts of the war. Barely mentioned Bosniak and Croat deaths and sensationalized the Serbian point of view. But if you do want to see a Yugoslavian nationalist, ultra Serbian POV of the war this is the movie for you. This movie was very one sided and was not in a neutral POV. Some of the facts seem to be taken from wrong sources. It just has the feel of a propaganda movie. The biggest reason I give the movie a 1 out of 10 ( if I could I would give a 0) is because the whole movie tends to completely wipe out the crimes committed by Serbia(JNA) and emphasizes crimes committed by the Croats and Muslims. The movie tries to cleanse the JNA of wrong doing and clearly favors a Serbian point of view, would have been much better if it stood in a neutral view and covered all sides.
From the beginning is obvious that this is biased "documentary"... You don't have to wait long to hear blatant lies. In first few minutes author glorifies first Yugoslavia as some great solution in which everyone was so happy and it was so sad it lived only until WWII... In fact it was great deception, and after promises of equality of all nations and constitutional monarchy, it turned out to be Serbian hegemony. On the first day of new state some Croats were killed on main square in Croatian capitol for protesting by Serbian army. 4 Croatian parliamentarians were killed in national parliament by some Serbian representative. After that, Serbian King proclaims dictatorship. After that he changes the name of the state from Kingdom of Serbs Croats and Slovenians to Kingdom of Yugoslavia, with new motto "One nation, one King, one state." What to say, paradise for all... Author forgot to mention how loved was King. So much that he was assassinated...As to reasons for breakup of the second Yugoslavia, I can agree that economic troubles were one factor that contributed, but to say it was the sole reason is ridiculous. Something like that could say only someone that wasn't there, or someone who is crazy... Or just lying.Why doesn't author mention infamous "Memorandum of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts" from 85/86? Or "organized spontaneity" that Milosevic used to abolish autonomy of Kosovo and Vojvodina? And same "yogurt revolution" approach in Montenegro?And there it is, plain and simple, main reason for breakup... Suddenly, Serbia has 4 automatic votes in Presidency. Other 4 Republics have 1 each. WHO would want to stay in such "equality"??????? Economy?!? Come on... In 89 Markovic even made famous reforms and stabilized Dinar, and situation was much better. And besides that, Yugoslavia was in much better position than rest of communist states of former Soviet block... Did Czech and Slovak's breakup violently?And claim that Serbs just wanted to protect parts of land where they were majority is like fairytale for little kids. We all remember famous cry "Where is one Serb, it is Serbia!". For example, I'm from Dubrovnik and I wonder where is Serbian majority there? Those Serbs in Dubrovnik I know were hiding in basements from "Peoples" army relentless shelling's, just like I did. What was the point of 10 days war in Slovenia? Who was protected there? Sibenik? Zadar? Vukovar? Sarajevo? Tuzla?....Why doesn't author admit what was Serbian story then? That they will stop only when they reach "Virovitica - Karlovac- Karlobag" line... That's all of Bosnia and 90% of Croatia.Author makes note that Croats acquired some weapons illegally, but forgets to mention that weapons of "territorial defense" which belonged to Croatia was illegally confiscated by Yugoslav Peoples Army and given to local Serbs who used it to start armed rebellion on 17. of August 1990. And he forgets to explain how suddenly peoples army which was multinational and had barracks in every corner of Yugoslavia, in just few days become purely Serbian?To be honest I watched first 45 minutes or so, couldn't stand it any more. Just another try to equalize guilt, with the spin this time... It's a world conspiracy, we couldn't do anything to stop it!Well, for sure every side is guilty of something, BUT guilt is not equal, and never will be, we all know it. We all know who started it, who was armed to the teeth and how many shells fell on Serbia until finally world and UN understood who is warmonger in ex Yugoslavia and bombed it silly.BTW, to see that here Izetbegovic is portrayed as the bad boy, the worst one, is simply hilarious. Poor guy didn't know what hit him, Slobo, Karadjic and co. on one side, and Tudjman, Mate Boban and co. on the other. "He wanted all..." Funny!If you look for objective story, look elsewhere...
Movie definitely shows what is done and real reasons behind the scene... It doesn't favorite anyone neither Serbian, neither Croatian, neither Slovenian or Bosnian...everyone lost in that war. Only winner in that war was USA, NATO, and EU.... Unfortunately they will not stop on Yugoslavia they will continue to make banana wars and use that as argue...to help...I mean to help vs. who vs. themselves...Great documentary with really good information's but unfortunately late for at list 20years now . Like they say better ever then never and truth will come on sooner or later.Too bad that so many lives are lost and so many homes are destroyed because of greedy people and parasite countries.
The person that made this movie is either very evil or very uninformed. This is an insult to all the people that survived the war. And they know what a big lie this is! I was there, I was a child and they took my childhood, they took my family members, and now they want to take the truth. I hate no one, and everyone knows in a war is nothing just black or just white, every side had it's wrong doings, but this film isn't saying that. This film is trying to erase the guilt of Serbia and put it on others. For everyone who doesn't know the facts, here is a fact that will make everything much clearer and no one (Croate, Muslim or Serb) can say it's not true: The Serbian army fought on Croatian and Bosnian ground. The war happened in Croatia and Bosnia. Were there Croatian and Bosnian soldiers fighting on Serbian ground? No! Was there war on Serbian ground? No! Nationalism is never good, but truth isn't nationalism, and the truth should not be forgotten. So, don't let us forget! Don't allow them to take the truth and the past from us!