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Jack, the Balkans & I | Jack, de Balkan en ik

In 1972, Congolese - Belgian popstar Jack Roskam moves to Yugoslavia, where he meets and marries his Croatian wife. He becomes the guitarist of one of the most popular local rock bands, Galija. Tall, black and adorned with dreadlocks, Jack stands out on stage amongs this mostly Serbian colleagues.

Being a convinced pacifist, Jack had escaped service in the Belgian army, but at the time of the outbreak of the Yugoslavian war his convictions are tested. As Galija's songs become more Serb orientated, Jack decides to leave the band. While Yugoslavian people are forced to choose sides, Jack faces the dilemma to either return to Belgium or to stay but what will be the fate of his new country and family and friends. The war will force him to exchange his Fender Stratocaster for a Kalashnikov and to fight in the Croatian army.

In this road movie, Jack and the Bosnian filmmaker travel through former Yugoslavia, reflecting on the choices they both made in the war.







 

Cast and Crew

director

Sergej Kreso

camera

Wiro Felix

2nd camera

Aage Hollander

sound

Slobodan Bajić

production coordination

Mak Kapetanović

editing

Srdjan Fink

sound post

Hans Tournè

composer Jack Roskam
producer Denis Vaslin
production

Serendipity Film
Belgium

Volya Films Netherlands

co-production IKON TV

length

59' & 68'
genre documentary
year 2008

Sales and Distribution

int. sales

Andana Films

Funding

Dutch Cultural Broadcasting Foundation
CoBO-Fund
Flanders Audiovisual Fund
Flanders Image
Thuiskopie Fund


festivals

Premiered at IDFA 2008 section “Premieres from the Lowlands”
Bergamo Film Meeting 2009
LOW Art Festival Budapest 2009
MIPDOC 2009
BelDocs Belgrado 2009
DOKMA film Festival 2009
Gdansk DocFilm Festival 2009 Special jury distinction
Netherlands Film Festival 2009