Synopsis
A young war veteran tries to cope with the unsolved political situation, economic hardships and an unhappy love in post-war Bosnia, while his father cannot give up his socials beliefs in an increasingly corrupt society. Torn by the problems of the two men, the mother falls ill – her illness causing the family to bond again.
Sarajevo 2011
The film opens with Marija preparing a fresh vegetable juice for her 40-year-old son Saša. Saša still lives at home and is working as a computer specialist. He is a nice, helpful and intelligent young man, but unhappy since he cant‘ get over his ex-girlfriend Nina who left him years ago. Nina not only gave him Hepatitis C, but also left him with a CNN correspondent in the middle of the war without ever saying goodbye. Saša’s illness has been very difficult for the whole family. His mother still worries about him and hopes to stabilize his health with special foods and juices.
Saša’s sister Senada, who lives with her husband in Malmo, tries to give him good advice and to cheer him up via Skype, but always finds an excuse when asked to come and visit home.
Marija is suffering from the absence of her daughter and from seeing her son so unhappy. She battles constantly with her husband Muhamed concerning his harsh treatment of his children, which does not make her life any easier.
Muhamed, a manager in a big local company, is lost in his own problems at work where he is the only one against the placement of shares on the stock exchange. Both Saša and Muhamed consumed with their self-pity don’t see how they make Marija suffer. On the other hand, Muhamed has his happy moments too. Everyday he meets with his friends at the Barber Shop where the men discuss politics, make jokes and enjoy life.
One day Leijla, a girl from the neighbourhood who lived for a couple of years abroad, reappears in the city. Marija invites her for lunch hoping she might help Saša find happiness again. Leijla is a very optimistic young girl who successfully studied in America but wanted to return home. Little by little she gets closer to Saša, but his longing for Nina makes it impossible for him to fall in love. Then one day, out of a sudden, Nina comes back from America telling Saša about her failed marriage with the CNN reporter, her son, and her new job in Sarajevo. At first, Saša falls completely under her spell again, but during their conversation he realises that she is a selfish, bitter woman who just wants to be with him because of loneliness and because he represents an easy way out of her situation. He leaves the hotel room without making love to her. On his way home Saša realizes that he has been chasing a ghost for ten years and suddenly feels free. Only now he realizes how attractive and sweet Leijla is and at their next encounter he makes passionate love to her.
At the end, it is Marija’s sudden discovery of breast cancer and her risk of dying that shows the family what really counts in life.
In the last scene of the film Marija is laying in bed after her operation while her son and husband are finally taking care of her. When Leijla, who is now Saša‘s girlfriend, prepares coffee she puts an extra cup on the table by mistake (which in Bosnia announces an unexpected visitor). At that moment a key turns in the lock and the very pregnant Senada opens the door saying: “Only my crazy family still opens the door with a pre war key.”
The film ends with Saša making a fresh juice for his mother. By overcoming his unhappy love and by taking responsibility for his sick mother he has finally made the transformation from a boy to a man. Although the outcome of Marija’s treatment and health are unknown, her illness illuminated Muhamed, Saša and Senada and showed them that family is the most important thing in life and that it is time for them to take a different approach to it.