-Editorial by Summer MLI Intern L.A. Perez
On June 25th, the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) attended a congressional showing of the documentary "Kiss the Future," directed by Nenad Cicin-Sain; a beautiful film that displays human resilience through art and expression during the Siege of Sarajevo. We were so excited to not only have been invited to see this film but to have experienced it with so many different people. It was a crowd of around 200, with some attendees from the Bosnian government itself, including current president Željko Komšić. As if that wasn't exciting enough, much of the cast featured in the documentary were also in attendance, providing us with firsthand insights into life during the siege of Sarajevo and the making of the movie itself.
After a quick trip from the MLI office to the Capitol South metro station, we entered the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center; a beautifully captivating building designed with brilliant slabs of granite and marble. We checked in at the service desk and walked towards the group of people who congregating in the main room of the hall. There were a multitude of guests of varying ages, garb, and appearances, with multiple languages being spoken in various areas of the room. An assortment of food was served from both the main table and by waiters who walked around offering refreshments to guests. At first, it was overwhelming, but it quickly became a source of intrigue as I had never experienced an event like this.
After about 30 minutes of talking with various people and gratefully eating the hors d'oeuvres, a small speech was made by one of the coordinators thanking everyone for attending this important event. After that, the group walked into the theater and settled in for the showing, waiting in anticipation for the documentary to start. First came a personalized video message from the producer, Matt Damon, expressing his gratitude to all in attendance. Next, Bill Carter, one of the writers and cast members of the movie, detailed the story of how the movie came to be and the significance of this period in history. Finally, President Komšić (shown below) gave a resounding speech in the Bosnian language that perfectly portrayed the importance of this documentary in not only educating future generations about the war but also giving closure to many who lived it.
After a few seconds of applause, the lights dimmed and we made ourselves comfortable as we experienced the film for the first time.
I can honestly say that I was enthralled with the story of people's perseverance at such a devastating point in world history. After the breakup of Yugoslavia and the initiation of the Bosnian War, families were ripped apart, civilians were targeted by the armed forces, and Sarajevo, a city that once was known as home to many, became a war-torn area under siege. However, the one thing that shined through this tragedy was the spirit of the people who not only survived these times but lived in defiance of the world around them. People created art and music as real-world expressions of what they were experiencing, channeling their emotions to create a sense of normalcy in a world of terror. In a place where death was lurking around every corner, where a sniper could be overlooking your daily walk to the grocery store, these citizens found ways to carry on with their daily lives. Through comedy, underground concerts, and even outside organizations that traveled to different communities to provide entertainment and aid, the harrowing nature of war was kept at bay through the resilience of the human spirit.
The main focal point of this film was the climactic concert in Sarajevo featuring the Irish rock band U2. The American Bill Carter made it his mission to contact the group for years while he was in Bosnia, and before finally holding an interview with their lead singer, Bono, on television. Their music spoke to the people of Bosnia, and the band acknowledged their situation on a world stage; something that few were brave enough to do so openly during that time period. The ending of the movie was masterful, as it detailed U2's concert in Sarajevo after the siege had ended with help from the U.S. military. The performance conveyed a message to all in attendance: to move past the devastation of the war, Bosnians must live in a world of togetherness and acceptance. This was emphasized by the specific musical acts chosen to open the concert before U2 headlined the event. The first opening group was a local Islamic choir from a nearby high school, displaying the strong Islamic influence that remains in Bosnian culture to this day. The following two bands were rock groups from Sarajevo, who both gave voice to the generations that had lived through the many years of political turmoil and rampant physical insecurity. One group, Sikter, even played a rendition of the Bosnian national anthem, further playing on the theme of togetherness and the resilience of the Bosnian people. When U2 took the stage, they gave an extremely profound performance that echoed in the hearts of those in attendance. During the last few songs of their set, Bono noticed he was so full of emotion that he had difficulty singing and encouraged the crowd to sing the lyrics out loud. This decision gave the Bosnian people a voice; they were no longer being spoken for by others but were instead singing the songs of triumph themselves.
After about a minute of applause and a standing ovation, a Q&A panel consisting of cast members from the film and the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States (shown left) took the stage. There was only time for a few questions, but the panelists' answers were extremely empowering and relevant in today's society. They discussed the meaning of the art that kept them going throughout the war, the experiences that gave them meaning, and how people in the present should learn from the mistakes of the past so as not to have the history of violence repeat itself.
The Marshall Legacy Institute had a wonderful time and is grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the congressional showing of "Kiss the Future." Each member of the team (smiling below) was moved by the stories and details that were shared with us during both the film and the Q&A panel. We walked away with an even deeper appreciation for the Bosnian people and those who strived to help keep a sense of normalcy during the war. Our mission has always been to help others, alleviate suffering, and create hope; if anything, this documentary proves that even in the darkest of times, there will always be those who are willing to stand up and come to the aid of others.
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