In July, 1995, The Bosnian Serb Army led by ruthless General Mladic (Isakovic) occupies the town of Srebrenica, and the terrified Muslim civilian population takes refuge at the UN base nearby, a supposed safe haven. Well, maybe not. Aida (Duricic) is a UN translator trying to do her job, while at the same time working to protect her husband Nihad (Bajrovic) and two grown sons, Sejo (Bajrovic) and Hamdija (Ler). It becomes increasingly clear that the Serbs have the upper hand, and the UN very little influence. Amidst all the chaos and violence, will Aida be able to save her family?

Based on real events, Jasmila Zabanic’s shocking, ticking time bomb of a movie recreates a brutal juncture in the recent history of the former Yugoslavia, as we witness the  mayhem of a genocidal conflict that resulted in many thousands of needless deaths. Watching it all unfold through the eyes of Aida, a UN employee who is protected but can’t guarantee the protection of her own family, makes this potent thriller even more heartrending. Performances excel across the board, but Djuricic carries the film as a desperate woman moving heaven and earth to save those dearest to her. Zabanic’s camera stays right with Aida, who is constantly on the move trying to stave off disaster. The Oscar-nominated “Quo Vadis” is not an easy film, but it is a brilliant one.