Srebrenica is a universal tragedy of our civilization. Although 26 years have passed, it is still a great trauma for our region
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the globally popular film star and human rights activist Angelina Jolie dedicated an extensive text to women victims of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and she spoke about this topic with BiH director Jasmila Žbanić.
Jolie reminds us that the latest film by the Bosnian author, Quo Vadis, Aida?, tells the story of the Srebrenica genocide through the life of a Bosnian woman, Aida, who works as a translator for the UN, while simultaneously trying to save her family and fellow citizens from violence.
“Jasmila told me that the Mothers of Srebrenica inspired her to make this film. For more than two decades, this group of female survivors has held peaceful protests and used the power of motherly love to keep the memory of their male family members alive, search for their bodies and demand justice and truth,” Jolie wrote in the introduction to the article for Time magazine. She spoke with the Bosnian director about the years she spent in besieged Sarajevo, how the war defined her as a person, but also about the central topic of the interview, the story of the Srebrenica genocide and the decision to make a film about it. Žbanić said that the war shaped her as both a person and an artist, and her first film, a documentary about a mother searching for the remains of her children in a mass grave, was war-themed.
When asked why she decided to tell the story of Srebrenica, she answers:
“Srebrenica is a universal tragedy of our civilization. Although 26 years have passed, it is still a great trauma for our region”.
He points out that the filming of the film took place away from the public eye, because there was a fear that some politicians would try to use this topic for another division between nations.
Speaking about the UN’s role in Srebrenica, Jolie recalled that the initial idea was for these international forces to protect people, but the exact opposite happened – a massacre.
“The UN is a great idea about an institution that unites us all, and I would like it to be stronger, better and more determined. But the UN is still under the influence of political interests that have nothing to do with human rights, which makes the UN systemically corrupt,” Žbanić pointed out, expressing the hope that her film Quo Vadis, Aida, will help raise the issue of the independence of UN decisions and the need for more determination in the protection of human rights.
Jolie paid special tribute to the Mothers of Srebrenica, calling them “truly amazing and inspiring,” and when asked about the significance of this association for her as a BiH citizen, Žbanić replied:
“I don’t understand where they find such incredible strength. Mothers are still searching for the bones of their sons and husbands. 1,700 bodies have still not been found. They remain hidden.”
“Some mothers live only to find and bury their loved ones. They know that all their other relatives are dead, and if they don’t find them, their children won’t even have a grave to visit. I know that no film can convey such an amount of pain, but I tried to show a small part of this tragedy,” added the author of the film about Srebrenica, which was recently shortlisted for this year’s Oscar in the category of best foreign film.
Žbanić further explains that the Mothers of Srebrenica never sought revenge, but directed their energy to search for truth and justice.
“That is the only way to build true peace. Even after a tragedy like this, they are the ones who promote the idea of togetherness and love for each other,” she added.
When asked if he thinks that the Mothers of Srebrenica have received the recognition they deserve, Žbanić replies that he hopes that one day they will be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Because they are a unique force of peacemakers in the world”, concluded BiH. author, and Jolie welcomed the idea, expressing hope that it would help in part to heal the trauma of the war.
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