Even though I'm from Macedonia, I will try to review this title from the most objective point of view possible.
I honestly had a higher expectations from this motion picture, simply because I believed (and I still do) that the director Darko Mitverski is a great director. Unfortunately, better director than this movie.
The movie according to my humble opinion is good, but not excellent. Good idea, averagely implemented. The characters are not fully processed and most part of scenes and time on screen is wasted on less important facts (some fictional) for the story line. Emil Ruben and Richard Sammel delivered amazing roles. Toni Mihajlovski and Verica Nedeska too who had small parts proved that all what outstanding actors need is one or two short lines and gestures to make a great role. This is Saso Kocev's first leading role in a movie and that's why I'm gonna give him a break. He really was trying but sometimes is hard to deliver a believable character when you have a partner like Katarina Ivanovska who looks great and breathtaking and nothing else. I don't know much about the movie making process in general, but I most definitely know that you DO NOT sacrifice the whole movie for a couple of camera shots on a pair of perfectly shaped breasts. If I was the director I would have chosen Verica Nedeska for the part of Rebeka.
From an aesthetic point of view (costume designs, photography and scenery) the movie makes positive progress in the Macedonian cinematography but we've already seen all that in the Milco Mancevski movies so yes, progress but nothing unseen or outstanding especially if we consider the money spent on the film.
All in all, I really wanted to fell in love with this movie but it was impossible. I don't react well on movies which try to push down my throat way too pathetic scenes on a patriotic basis. I'm gonna be honest and say that there were some scenes that provoked tears in my eyes but they didn't deliver anything huge. Maybe I'm the problem. Maybe I've already seen too many motion pictures and theatrical performances in my life to blindly shout out loud Hooray!
Two thumbs up beside all. It's better to have any kind of movie, than no movie at all. For all you reading, watch it and make a decision on your own. The third Half it is a movie that impacts differently on different types of people.
