The Black Bomber (1992) User Reviews

Precipitation based on logical judgment was not enough

[gosnje · 9/10 · 25 August 2002]

It has been for a fact that artists can see way ahead their time. Artists of former Yugoslavia were no different. What was exceptional in their case, however, was that they were not following their "inner feelings", but were making logical assumptions based on actual occurrences. In 1990 and 1991, artists from all Republics of Yugoslavia were trying to tell the people that something really, really bad is going to happen.

Of course, nobody listened.

Crni Bombarder is a film about a guy who has a radio show, which is very popular. The radio show is very popular for its honesty to its listeners about the situation in the country, which is very near to a civil war. However, he suffers from temporary amnesia, meaning every time he wakes up in the morning, he has no recollection of anything that happened to him the previous night.

Of course, because of his show, he is wanted by the state authorities... etc. etc.

The story itself is a cliche, and, on my humble opinion, wasn't the primary concern of the director and the screenwriter.

The film was supposed to awake the people, telling them that the war will brake out in case they don't do something about it. All scenes, every dialogue, everything was a warning, an explanation in pictures and words that something wrong is going to happen.

Unfortunately, the film was released in late 1992, and by then, over 65% of the country was engaged in brutal, bloodthirsty, civil war...

A generation lost.

[andrejvasiljevic · 10/10 · 6 September 2012]

"Crni Bombarder" or "Black Bombardier" is one if my most favored Serbian films of 1990s. It represents a requiem for a life, a time and generation which was born in post WW2 Yugoslavia and as such had a privileged chance to live in an environment without war and crisis. Alas, such times don't last in these parts, and 1991. had all them dreams shattered down into tiny pieces. "Crni Bombarder" is also the high peak of Darko Bajic's career, as well as the best performance of Dragan Bjelogrlic and Anica Dobra.

Yugoslavia may have been a formal part to the Soviet block in the days of cold war, and yet, it enjoyed quite a western lifestyle. There were no major shortages, everyone was allowed to travel, some freedom of expression existed and people in general felt as a part of the western world. This, amongst other things encouraged the young, born in the 50s and 60s to become a first modern and urban generation the country ever had. It is a generation which listened to rock, felt good about itself and had the energy to change the world. Belgrade, being the capital and cultural center of Yugoslavia presented a gathering point for new ideas and liberal thinking, a place which lead the way. Still, this light wasn't to last. As the 80s came to an end, devils of past began to awaken and together with the upcoming decade the country started to fall apart. "Crni Bombarder" tells a tale of two young people who fight against the inert system and just won't let go. It is also a requiem for the urban generation which either perished in the incoming wars or found their luck in some distant place, often across the ocean.

But don't get discouraged by this philosophical grinding. "Crni Bombarder" is not a Shakespearean drama. It's a flick which tells a tale of a last major twitch, a last big push by a generation which grew up in peace and didn't want to loose itself in the inferno of war and political madness. When I look around and see what Belgrade looks like today, it hits me how this film was right in it's tracks, unfortunately...

Directing was good, acting excellent, grim atmosphere right on the spot and music... well the soundtrack made by Elektricni Orgazam made "Crni Bombarder" a sort of an urban legend. Watch it, You won't regret.

Subject that still hunts

[Julio-1980 · 10/10 · 18 December 2021]

Movie that represent inner discussion of lost generations. Filmed in Serbia, however can be projected all over the world, in history and future.

Strong message about destiny and freedom.

could have been better

[dragokin · 3/10 · 5 November 2013]

Darko Bajic didn't only direct but has also collaborated on the script of The Black Bomber. From today's standpoint, here he was at his peak as an author which, on the other hand, resulted in a mediocre movie.

The production was rather good for the time of it's creation and the setting might have been called revolutionary for the place where it had been made. This feature film offered a rather bleak vision of near future to the youth of the era, in particular the youth of Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, the authors guessed some of the things right.

On the positive side, there are glimpses of end-of-the-century atmosphere of Wim Wenders' Until the End of the World (1991) or even Kathryn Bigelow's Strange Days (1997). And Radio Boom is thinly veiled Radio B92 which had an important role in Serbia in 1990's.

On a less positive note, Crni Bombarder suffers from poor writing, which continues to plague Serbian cinematography even today. Valid for both the plot and the dialogs, it makes even accomplished experienced actors such as Danilo "Bata" Stojkovic sound fake.