Review
by Moyra J. Bligh originally written for the "John
& Delenn Site"
Set in the 1930's this
is the complex tale of "Jana", a young girl from a poor village high
in the mountains of Yugoslavia. It chronicles her arranged "marriage"
to the wealthy "Maksim" who transports her to Buenos Aires and life
in his "house of ill-repute". Although she bears him a son she receives
no better treatment than any of his other "ladies". Her personal relationships
with her johns and lovers and her protectors are woven throughout
the story in a multi-faceted tapestry, and in the end "Jana" does
get what she truly deserves at the conclusion of her journey, a new
life in a better place. Mirjana Jokovic plays the role beautifully.
Competently directed
by Argentinean director Juan Bautista Stagnaro, this film makes good
use of its musical score to establish mood and flavor. The scene near
the end where "Jana's" brother kills "Maksim", subtly foreshadowed
in the opening moments of the film, is exquisitely and artfully choreographed,
as are the Carnival scenes which have much more of a dark flavor than
the celebratory nature that one normally expects to see in such scenes,
and with good reason.
Mira plays "Bessi",
one of the other girls who makes the journey by sea from Europe to
South America. Perhaps a little older and initially a little more
worldly than the rest of "Maksim's" stable, she is also a lesbian
and it is quite clear from the moment that she first lays eyes on
"Jana" that she is enamoured of her. We only ever glimpse small bits
and snippets of "Bessi's" life, all of them moments with "Jana", beginning
with her southern journey and ending on her deathbed, as she succumbs
to venereal disease.
Mira's role in this
film is minimal, but her performance shines. She establishes "Bessi's"
character immediately and remains true to her throughout the entire
film. I really have the sense of knowing "Bessi" intimately. This
is also a role where Mira's hauntingly beautiful singing voice is
put to good use to convincingly establish a mood in one of the scenes.