Kiss the Future (2023) User Reviews

Very sentimental and touching, but poorly joined together

[atifdzafo · 7/10 · 12 August 2023]

Kiss the Future is an interesting film about the hope that U2 gave to the citizens of Sarajevo by supporting them throughout the war and organizing a concert 2 years after the Dayton peace agreement was signed.

However the film is written in a way that is trying to make it a "one-size-fits-all" war movie about the Siege of Sarajevo with a slight spinoff into the U2 concert and how much it meant for the Sarajevans in 1997, being a symbol of unity and prosperity after those hard years. In fact the whole "Kiss the Future" optimistic narrative is clustered into the final mi nutes as some sort of a triumph after presenting the viewer with some key data about the Siege of Sarajevo and the stories of people involved.

By trying to appeal to all audiences and present everything in a short amount of time it loses artistic value and sets itself up as a rather sad war drama movie instead of an optimistic historical event movie that saw the community come together and do the impossible just 2 years after the bombing stopped, with parts of the city still in ruins. Hence it feels like a poorly written documentary with badly selected actors that uses emotion and empathy to get good reviews and festival awards, especially after such an ending.

very good, but...

[nikiriki · 6/10 · 3 March 2024]

First and foremost: this movie powerfully reminisces the horrible years of siege of Sarajevo, and the role of artistic expression in human coping and survival. Through statements of actual participants in Sarajevo's wartime underground art&music, and via the story of U2's support - movie makes excellent points of transcendental values such as empathy, equality, importance of peace and it's protection, active resistance against all sorts of aggressiveness, etc.

However, the authors made three unnecessary extensions to the main story : first - tried to explain historical context through short clips about Milosevic. That was waaay too simplistic; adequate only for those that must have a bad guy / food guy dichotomy in every story. It goes to the absurd explanation of M.'s fate ... indictment in Hague-ICJ, although that indictment is not related to the war in Bosnia!

Second: choosing Christiane Amanpour to talk about tough times of people under siege - is adding insult to the fate of millions hurt by the wars she & CNN supported (since late 90s).

Third: at the very end, the authors clumped 30ish seconds of, from their perspective, "modern evils" (Putin, Berlusconi, Trump,...) . If they (authors) really think that such a "conclusion" is appropriate - then they are setting themselves as propagandists. Who needs that?

Cinematic gem for all...

[jasontyson · 10/10 · 14 February 2024]

"Kiss the Future" delivering a powerful exploration of the resilience of music amidst the war-torn backdrop of Sarajevo. This poignant masterpiece seamlessly weaves together interviews, archival footage, offering a hauntingly beautiful testament to the indomitable human spirit.

The interviews with musicians and survivors are deeply moving, offering a nuanced perspective on the role of music in the face of adversity. The documentary succeeds in giving a voice to those who found courage and resilience through their art, creating a narrative that is as educational as it is emotionally impactful.

This film not only sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of history but also serves as a testament to the universal language of music that transcends cultural and political divides. "Kiss the Future" is not just a documentary; it's a profound meditation on the enduring power of art to heal and inspire even in the darkest of times.

In an era flooded with documentaries, "Kiss the Future" stands out as a magnum opus that demands attention. Bravo to the entire team for creating a work of art that transcends its genre and leaves an enduring impact on the soul.

This is a MUST see!!

[teddycannon · 10/10 · 1 March 2024]

This is an incredible story about a tragic point in history and the collaboration of Bill Carter and U2 to force the world to look and see what was happening to Sarajevo. A MUST see!! I was a teenager when this happened, and I only followed it from a periphery at that age. See all of this incredible archival footage brought it all back. It was also incredible that there was so much footage on the people followed through the documentary. It makes the story telling much more real. I left this movie with the renewed belief that 1 person (Bill Carter) CAN move mountains. The director threaded the story perfectly and the interview settings are stunning!

Powerful documentary

[mkeynba · 10/10 · 3 March 2024]

As I saw the movie today, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised as it turned out to be an excellent documentary which follows the siege of Sarajevo and Bosnia. It shows how the people found strength trough music in order to escape and oppose the brutality of war. It is a story about human spirit and the power of music, an art as well.

The big part in the documentary was the Irish band U2. They showed emphaty towards the citizens of Sarajevo as they experienced the brutality of war in their own homeland Ireland. The narration was excellent, good storytelling along with the live music from U2 concerts. Powerful documentary indeed.