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Jack, the Balkans & I (2008)
Written & directed by Sergej Kreso
58'/67' documentary
In 1972, Congolese-Belgian pop star 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 amongst his mostly Serbian colleagues.
Being a convinced pacifist, Jack had escaped service in the Belgium army, but at the time of the outbreak of the Yugoslavian war his convictions are sorely 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 to share the fate of his new country and family and friends. The war will force him to change his Fender Stratocaster for a Kalashnikov and to fight in the Croatian army.
In this road movie, Jack and the Bosnian moviemaker travel through former Yugoslavia, reflecting on the choices they both made in the war.
In co-production with IKON and Serendipity Film (Belgium)
| Director | Sergej Kreso |
| Camera | Wiro Felix |
| Extra shooting | Aage Hollander |
| Sound | Slobodan Bajić |
| Production coordination | Mak Kapetanović |
| Editing | Srdjan Fink |
| Sound post | Hans Tourné |
| Composer | Jack Roskam |
| Producer | Denis Vaslin |
Sales Agent: Andana Films
- Premiered at IDFA 2008, section 'Premieres from the Lowlands' -
| LOW Art Festival Budapest (Holland - Flamand) | 2009 | HUN |
| Bergamo Film Meeting | 2009 | ITA |
| DOKMA film Festival | 2009 | SLO |
| IDFA | 2008 | NED |
| Global visions | 2009 | CAN |
| Beldocs 2009 | 2009 | SER |
| Gdansk DocFilm Festival 2008 - hounarable mention | 2008 | POL |
| Netherlands Film Festival 2008 | 2008 | NED |
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