Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2013

A Bosnian Serb policeman falls in love with a Muslim woman in 1992 as the region’s fragile harmony erodes. When the Bosnian war breaks out, he finds himself in charge of a military camp where she turns up as a prisoner. Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut displays talent and promise, and she succeeds in her goal of attracting international attention to the atrocities committed against women in war. But that’s not what makes a good movie, and the story suffers from her ardor to get her message across. Cinematically speaking, for many this will be a noble, well-intentioned and very depressing slog.