CABARET BALKAN
aka THE POWDER KEG aka BURE BARUTA

Year: 1998
USA: Paramount Classics
UK: UIP
Cast: Miki Manojlovic, Sergej Trifunovic, Mirjana Jokovic, Lazar Ristovski, Mira Banjac, Ivan Bekjarev, Aleksandar Bercek, Voja Brajovic, Bogdan Diklic, Milena Dravic, Nebojsa Glogovac, Mirjana Karanovic, Dragan Jovanovic, Toni Mihajlovski, Nebojsa Milovanovic, Nikola Ristanovski, Marko Urosevic, Dragon Nikolic, Danilo 'bata' Stojkovic, Velimir 'bata' Zivojinovic
Director: Goran Paskaljevic
Countries: France / Greece / Republic of Macedonia / Turkey / Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Language: Serbo-Croatian
USA:100 mins
UK: 102 mins
USA Rated: R for strong violence including an act of sexual assault, strong language and some drug use
UK Certificate: 18 for strong violence and sexual threat
USA Release Date: 23 July 1999
UK Release Date: 28 July 2000

Synopsis

CABARET BALKAN, a ferocious black comedy, presents a microcosm of life in contemporary Belgrade by introducing us to a disparate gallery of characters who inhabit the Balkan city over the course of one hectic night. The film opens with a direct nod to "Cabaret," as a heavily made-up emcee cheerfully warns the viewer that "tonight, I'm going to screw with your minds." From there, we join the arrival home of a man who, it turns out, hopes to be reconciled with his estranged wife. The taxi driver who takes him downtown from the airport questions his wisdom in returning to "this lousy country," noting that anyone with brains has already left. In the background, the car radio reports Euro pressure on Milosevic's Yugoslav government to stop the fighting in Kosovo. From there, we are introduced to a disparate succession of the city's denizens, each of them affected by the politics that continue to rack this once unified country. As the individual storylines intertwine and lead toward a common destiny, an unforgettable portrait of human survival is formed that the viewer is not likely to forget.