The Bosnian film Grbavica has been one of the year's most discussed films as far as film festivals are concerned. Along with Volver from Spain and The Lives of Others from Germany, it has a chance at being one of this year's Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film.
Most recently, Grbavica was awarded the grand jury prize at the AFI Fest (news HERE), but otherwise it has been receiving very positive reactions from several of the year's festivals, including the awarding of the Golden Bear for "best film" at the Berlin Film Festival (more HERE).
The film is directed by newcomer Jasmila ?bani?, and is about (from the website):
Single mother Esma lives with her 12-year-old daughter Sara in Sarajevo’s Grbavica neighborhood, where life is still being reconstructed after the 1990s Yugoslav wars. Unable to make ends meet with the meager government aid she receives, Esma takes a job as a cocktail waitress in a nightclub. Working all night is difficult for Esma physically and it also forces her to reluctantly spend less time with her daughter.
The film's English title appears to be Esma's Secret, and will be released in the UK and Ireland on December 15. If it does receive an Oscar nomination, I guess that North American audiences can expect it around the holiday season.
I had a chance to see this film, but sadly could not attend and all the positive talk it has been receiving in the festival world is making me really regretful that I missed the opportunity!

