Web Resources - Print Resources - Media Resources |
| Recommended because these are twenty-five quality lectures on Balkan history which were written by Steven Sowards of Michigan State University. They end in the year 1995, just about the time that the Dayton Accords ended the civil war in Bosnia, but several years before the NATO attack on Yugoslavia in response to Serbian/Albanian strife in Kosovo. Start by looking at the hyper-linked Table of Contents which gives a list and description of each of the twenty-five lectures. Be aware of the fact that the lectures are quite detailed and were designed for college level students. This site also contains maps and Internet links to sources of news on and from the Balkans. Last Modified: 29/08/2004 |
| From U. Pitt: Bulgaria, a Curriculum Guide for Secondary School Teachers |
| Recommended because it is a comprehensive introduction to the history, current political situation and culture of Bulgaria. Start by downloading the Word document at the bottom of the page. Be aware of the fact that the lectures include photographs, recipes and basic language phrases. Last Modified: 02/02/2007 |
| Recommended because it is a comprehensive introduction to the history, current political situation and culture of Romania. Start by downloading the Word document at the bottom of the page. Be aware of the fact that the lectures include photographs, recipes and basic language phrases. Produced by the Slavic Center at the U. of Pittsburgh. Last Modified: 02/02/2007 |
| Recommended because it is a comprehensive introduction to the history, current political situation and culture of Croatia. Start by downloading the Word document at the bottom of the page. Be aware of the fact that the lectures include photographs, recipes and basic language phrases. Last Modified: 02/02/2007 |
| A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City |
| Recommended because this is a teachers' curriculum unit that helps students understand the challenges of establishing and maintaining a refugee camp, as well as what it is like to live there. This is an extensive lesson plan with a great deal of information based on real experiences primarily in Africa, but including as well information about refugees from Albania, Kosovo, and Georgia. Start by reading the Introduction to Teachers which was written by the website's author. Last Modified: 29/08/2004 |
| All About Bulgaria |
| Recommended because this is a very good FAQ (frequently asked questions) sheet about Bulgaria. It is maintained by Dragomir R. Radev (radev@cs.columbia.edu). Topics and materials included in this large and comprehensive site are language and literature, art, cuisine, politics and other sports, history, travel, and connectivity. Also includes links to other Bulgarian resources, including mailing lists and a poetry archive. Be aware of the fact that this website apparently has not been updated since the year 2000, so it has limited value for information on current events. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| Belgrade Radio B92 |
| Recommended because the English-language site of B92 radio is an important independent media outlet in Serbia. Start by going to the "Main Stories" section. Be aware of the fact that this site includes Real Audio, frequent updates, and some streaming video. |
| CNN Bosnia Website |
| Recommended because this is CNN's site for news from Bosnia. Topics and materials include news stories, maps, analysis, relief agency information, relevant links, and archival material. Be aware of the fact that it hasn't been updated since 1996, but valuable nonetheless. 30/08/2004 |
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| Homepage of the NATO-led Implementation Force in Bosnia (IFOR) |
| Recommended because this is the IFOR (Implementation Force) homepage which contains maps, pictures, and documents relating to "Operation Joint Endeavor," which lasted from 20 Dec. 1995 - 20 Dec. 1996 in Bosnia Herzegovina. Start by reading about NATO's mission in Bosnia. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia |
| Recommended because this is the homepage of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Be aware of of the fact that there are a huge number of downloadable documents on cases handled by the Tribunal. Good for teaching about war crimes. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| Kosovo: An Uneasy Peace |
| Recommended because this BBC website takes a comprehensive look at the 1999 war between NATO and Yugoslavia over Kosovo and the aftermath of the Yugoslav defeat. It makes clear that ethnic strife continues in the region. Be aware of the fact that historical background is combined with late-breaking news articles, maps, timelines. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| Learn About Yugoslavia's Restructuring and Name Change |
| Recommended because this is a complete lesson plan for students to gain a good understanding of the reasons behind and implications of the recent decision by Yugoslavia to change its official name to Serbia and Montenegro. Students analyze a news article, view excellent maps, and respond to questions posed in the lesson plan. A very well produced plan by CNN Student News. Start by reading the article Yugoslavia to Change Name. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| Milosevic on Trial |
| Recommended because Recommended because this website presents a detailed and objective look at the war crimes trial of former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic, as well as news and commentary on the development of the former Yugoslavia in the post-Milosevic era. Also includes links to BBC websites on the history of Yugoslavia in the 20th century, the rise and fall of Milosevic, and the ethnic conflict in Kosovo. Start by reading about Milosevic's thirteen years in power as head of Yugoslavic in the Rise and Fall section. Be aware of the fact that this website was produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
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| Peace de Resistance: Exploring Conflict Resolution Through Examining Current Events in Macedonia |
| Recommended because ethnic conflict in Macedonia has the potential to start a Third World War, but news coverage of this subject has been surprisingly meager. Overview of Lesson Plan: In this lesson, students consider ways in which the current conflict in Macedonia parallels their lives and explore techniques for resolving such conflicts. Start by reading the article, Macedonia Peace Signed. Be aware of the fact that this lesson plan was designed for grades 6-8 and 9-12. Produced by the New York Times Learning Network, 2001. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline |
| Recommended because of its daily news report on the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. News stories are brief, objective, and focus primarily on political developments. They are divided into the following areas: Russia; Transcaucasus and Central Asia; Central and Eastern Europe; and Southeastern Europe (here is where Balkan news stories will be found). Be aware of the fact that one can receive the daily RFE/RL news reports for free by e-mail (write to ) or the reports can be accessed on the RFE/RL website, which also has a newsline archive. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| Radio Romania International |
| Recommended because this is the Romanian government's voice to the international world. This link allows one to listen to RRI live. Be aware of Be aware of the fact that English language broadcasts are limited to about seven hours each day (check the provided schedule), so most of the time the station will be broadcasting in a non-English language. Last Modified: 03/02/2007 |
| Research Serb Perspectives on Milosevich's Trial at the Hague |
| Recommended because this is an excellent lesson plan which enables students to understand why Serbs are ambivalent about the trial for war crimes of their former president, Slobodan Milosevich, before the International Criminal Tribunal in the Hague. Not only do students gain a Serbian perspective on this issue, they also come to understand the background and purpose of the International Criminal Tribunal. Start by reading the article Milosevic Trial Splits Serb Views. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| Srebrenica: A Cry From the Grave |
| Recommended because Srebrenica, Bosnia, the world's first United Nations Safe Area, was the site of the worst case of genocide in Europe since World War II. In July 1995, the Bosnian Serb army staged a brutal takeover of the small, intimate spa town and its surrounding region. Over a period of five days, the Bosnian Serb soldiers separated Muslim families and systematically murdered over 7,000 men and boys in fields, schools, and warehouses. This website is a companion to the NOVA documentary produced by PBS. Start by going to the About the Program section for a good introduction. Be aware of the fact that it includes eyewitness accounts, there is an interactive timeline, a section devoted to the massacre's aftermath, and lesson plans are included. An excellent site. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
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| The Balkans and Turkey |
| Recommended because the Balkan states (the former Yugoslav nations, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania) are grouped with Turkey because the former were for centuries part of the Ottoman Empire. This site has lots of great links, both general and specific. Be aware of the fact that this is part of the About History website. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| The Internet Medieval Sourcebook (Fordham) |
| Recommended because although this website is devoted mostly to Western European affairs, it has a section on Byzantium which may be of interest. After all, when Rome fell, the Roman Empire lived on in the east for another millennium with its capital at Constantinople, today's Istanbul. Be aware of the fact that the website was created by university academics, this information is designed to be college level. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| The Ultimate Tongue-in-Cheek Tito Website |
| Recommended because of its great collection of photos, songs, and jokes about the late Yugoslav dictator. Funny stuff! Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| Web Site of the Serbian Government |
| Recommended because it is a great site for news from Serbia from the official (and newly democratic) government point of view, as well as a tremendous amount of information about the Serbian government, economy, national statistics, and a wonderful gallery of photographs "Serbia--Life and Customs" (though the pictures load slowly). Start by going to the Terror in Kosovo section for an ethnic Serbia perspective on events there. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
| Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation |
| Recommended because this lesson plan sheds light on the causes of the disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s by using as its text the diary of a child who lived in Sarajevo during the Bosnian civil war. By reading "Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life In Sarajevo," students come to understand what it was like to be a teenager in "Sarajevo during the ethnic conflict there. Produced by the Discovery Channel. Be aware of the fact that although it is not required, teachers should consider using the video "Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation" as a supplement to this lesson. This website is designed for grades 9-12. Last Modified: 30/08/2004 |
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| Balkan Ghosts : A Journey Through History (Vintage Departures) Author: Robert D. Kaplan, paperback: 307 pages; Reprint edition (March 1994) |
| Recommended because Recommended because “Balkan Ghosts” is perhaps the most influential book in America which deals with the subject of the Balkans. It seeks to explain the maze of ethnic groups in Southeastern Europe as well as the conflicts and grievances that exist between them. Admirers claim that Kaplan succeeds admirably in making sense of the Balkans for outsiders, especially the ethnic conflicts of the former Yugoslavia. Critics charge that Kaplan is a dilettante who writes well but lacks anything more than a superficial understanding of Balkan society and history. Available from Amazon.com for $11.20. |
| Bulgaria (Nations in Transition series) Author: Steven Otfinoski, Facts on File (1999) |
| Recommended because Recommended as a good source on the Balkan nation of Bulgaria. Designed for Grades 7-10. Topics and materials include an introductory chapter on history followed by individual sections on government, religion, economy, culture, cities and daily life. Present problems and future solutions are discussed in the concluding chapter. Otfinoski spends less time describing the transition period; instead he includes a chapter on cities that reads like an upbeat travel guide. This may confuse the reader because its optimism seems to clash with information elsewhere about economic difficulties. There are also a few serious internal contradictions, but the book does have sparks of good writing. Reviewed by and available for free loan from the University of Illinois' Russian and East European Center, or may be purchased from Amazon.com for $25.00. Updated September 2003. Last Modified: 28/06/2004 |
| Collapse of a Multinational State: The Case of Yugoslavia Author: Curriculum Unit for Secondary School–Community College, |
| Recommended because 90 pages/3 lessons. Includes: 10 slides. Price: $34.95. Recommended because making sense of the situation in the region that once made up the state of Yugoslavia is difficult. This resource will help your students understand the historical context for today's events. A readers' theater introduces students to the events form 1876 to 1918 that led to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Primary sources, mapping exercises, and political cartoons highlight several key time periods in the 20th century when political change affected this former state and its people. Available through SPICE (The Stanford Program in International and Cross Cultural Education). |
| Macmillan Atlas of War and Peace: Bosnia and Herzegovina (1996) Author: No author |
| Recommended because Recommended as a history and overview of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina with extensive background information, news reports by correspondents from The New York Times, introductions to important individuals, and many maps (New York, NY: Simon and Schuster), 48 pages. Reviewed by and available for loan from the University of Michigan's Center for Russian and East European Studies, or for purchase from Amazon.com new or used starting at $5.39. Last Modified: 28/06/2004 |
| The Bridge on the Drina (A Phoenix Book; P746) Author: Ivo Andric, Lovett F. Edwards (Translator) |
| Recommended because Recommended because this book is a wonderful introduction to the history of Bosnia's multicultural society. Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Andric gives four centuries of the history of a Bosnian town from the beginning of Ottoman (i.e. Muslim Turkish) rule in the 1500s to the outbreak of the First World War. Without seeming to take sides, Andric describes the backgrounds and motivations of the Turkish and Austrian rulers as well as explains the various religious groups (Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Muslim) that lived together over the centuries. As enjoyable to read as it is informative and enlightening, many consider this to be the best book written on Balkan history. Available from Amazon.com for $9.60. Last Modified: 28/06/2004 |
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| The Road to Sarajevo Author: Curriculum Unit for Secondary–Community College |
| Recommended because 23 pp. includes 10 slides. Price: $15.00. Recommended for insight into the origins of the First World War. The focus of the readers' theater is the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the motivations behind his murder. From full unit titled Collapse of a Multinational State: The Case of Yugoslavia. Available through SPICE (The Stanford Program in International and Cross Cultural Education). Last Modified: 28/06/2004 |
| The Serbs: History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslavia Author: Tim Judah, Yale University Press (1997) |
| Recommended because Recommended because it is considered to be one of the best books written on the subject of the civil wars that plagued Yugoslavia in the 1990s. A British journalist for the respected The Times of London and The Economist draws upon his experience of living in Belgrade and reporting on the disintegration of Yugoslavia. A critically acclaimed and comprehensive account of the self-destruction of Yugoslavia due to unrestrained ethnic conflict. Available through Amazon.com for $11.17. |
| Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation Author: Laura Silber and Allan Little (TV Books, 1995) |
| Recommended because Recommended because this book, a companion volume to a BBC television series called The Death of Yugoslavia, chronicles the disintegration of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991 and charts the development of the ensuing conflict. The authors' "central theme is that the Serbs, rather than the Slovenes, the Croats or the Muslims, were the principal secessionists. It was the decision by President Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia to turn the former Yugoslavia into a Serb-dominated state, according to Silber and Little, that led to the breakup of the country." Available through Amazon.com for $15. Reviewed by the New York Times, updated September 2003. Last Modified: 28/06/2004 |
| A Month in the Life of Ephtim D. (1999) |
| Recommended because this documentary takes a rare and intimate look at the life of Ephtim D., a 73-year-old pensioner and lifetime Communist living in Bulgaria following the collapse of the former Soviet Union. We follow Ephtim D. from the meager dinner table where he and his wife dine, to the park where he walks his dog and meets his friends, who still attend Socialist party meetings in Sofia and reminisce about the "good old days" under communism. Bulgarian with English subtitles and narration (56 minutes). Available for purchase from Facets Multimedia for $195. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| An Unforgettable Summer (1994) |
| Recommended because this is a rare feature film about Romania. From the director of the acclaimed THE OAK comes this unconventional love story set against a background of political confusion. Kristin Scott-Thomas is Marie-Therese, the young woman sent to a remote military outpost with her army officer husband and their children. She tries in vain to establish a genteel, civilized presence in this backward region. Ultimately she and her husband are thrown into conflict as he is ordered by his superiors to execute a local group of bandits that may or may not be guilty. Directed by Lucian Pintilie, stars Kristin Scott-Thomas (82 minutes). In Romanian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $30. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
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| Before the Rain (1994) |
| Recommended because this is a remarkable film that shows both the beauty of Macedonia and the violence and hatred that exists between its ethnic Macedonian and Albanian peoples. In a monastery in Macedonia, a young man must abandon his vow of silence to save a girl from a mob. In London, a woman, torn between a loveless marriage and a passionate affair with a war photographer finds fate dictates a choice she could not make on her own. And in Yugoslavia, the photographer returns to a nation divided by religious hatred and violence. His effort to salvage some small portion of peace will have an impact no one could foresee, and bring all three stories full circle. Directed by Milcho Manchevski (112 minutes). In Macedonian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but is apparently out of print. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Belgrade Ancient and New: Its History, Art, and Architecture (1992) |
| Recommended because this is a documentary focusing on the capital city of Serbia. Produced by Donya Schimansky, narrated by Mary Gaydos. In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but is apparently out of print. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Bosnia: Peace Without Honor (1995) |
| Recommended because this program traces the roots of the Bosnian conflict through the 1992-1995 efforts of America's Cyrus Vance and Britain's David Owen to negotiate a lasting peace. Both diplomats expose the role of world powers in brokering, mediating, and at times exacerbating the regional conflict. Owen attributes failures to establish an equitable regional government to the election of Bill Clinton and the resulting American foreign policy shifts, particularly the placement of UN troops in strategic Serbian sites. A BBC Production (40 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), or may be purchased from Films for the Humanities for $100. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Calling the Ghosts (1996, 60 minutes) |
| Recommended because it tells the story of two women interned in the Serbian concentration camp of Omarska during the Bosnian conflict. Like other Muslim and Croat women interned there, Jadranka Cigelj and Nusreta Sivac were systematically tortured and humiliated by their Serb captors. Once released, both women turned their personal struggles into a larger fight for justice, aiding other women who were similarly brutalized. Cigelj and Sivac, both lawyers, successfully lobbied to have rape included in the international lexicon of war crimes by the UN Tribunal at Hague. In Serbo-Croatian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Indiana University Russian and East European Institute or may be purchased from Women Make Movies for $325. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Dateline 1989: Romania (1991) |
| Recommended because it depicts the events at Timisoara, Romania that led to communist dictator Ceausescu's fall (23 minutes). In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but is apparently out of print. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
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| Diamonds in the Dark (1999) |
| Recommended because from a traditional village bordering Ukraine, to the relatively sophisticated city of Bucharest, this video tells the stories of ten Romanian women. We see and hear how they lived under the old regime, and how they are confronting the new problems of the post-communist era. Film by Olivia Carrescia (60 minutes). Available for free loan from the Indiana University Russian and East European Institute or may be purchased from First Run Icarus Films for $390. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Eastern Europe: 1900-1939 |
| Recommended because this program traces the history of Eastern Europe from the reign of Franz Josef to the rise of Hitler and the beginnings of the Second World War. Topics covered include the war for Macedonia pitting Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece against the Turks; political manipulation of the Balkans by Russia, Austria, Britain, and France; domination of Serbia; the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand; the fall of czarist Russia; the Hungarian Revolution of 1918; rise of the Communist Party; birth of the Czechoslovakian Republic; the Treaty of Versailles; the rise of Marshal Pilsudski in Poland; formation of the United Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes; and the Munich Conference (55 minutes). This is part one of the series "Eastern Europe: Political Powder Keg" which is described below. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Eastern Europe: 1939-1953 |
| Recommended because the events leading up to World War II had a devastating political and economic effect on Eastern Europe, as did the rise of Stalin and the thirst for empire of the Soviet Union. This program traces how both Hitler and Stalin's quests for power left this vulnerable area of the world permanently destabilized. Topics include the invasion of Poland by Germany; intrigues and internal politics of the Balkan States; declaration of Croatian independence; the war between Russia and Germany; the Warsaw Ghetto; Marshal Tito and the Anti-Fascist Liberation Council; the battle for Stalingrad; American intervention; the Slavic resistance movement; the Yalta Conference; the Potsdam Conference; the Communist takeover; Tito's break with Moscow; and closing of the Iron Curtain (59 minutes). This is part two of the series "Eastern Europe: Political Powder Keg" which is described below. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Eastern Europe: 1953-1991 |
| Recommended because this program begins with the death of Stalin, which precipitated a rash of political intrigues in the Balkans, and ends with the fall of Communism. Topics include the rise of Nikita Khrushchev; the 1956 Polish Workers Revolt; the liberation of Cardinal Wyszynski; the Hungarian Revolt; the rise of Nicolae Ceausescu in Romania; Tito's socialism; the Czechoslovakian Revolution; the death of Tito; the Helsinki Conference; Lech Walesa and the Polish miners' strike; Gorbachev and perestroika; and the rise of democracy (59 minutes). This is part three of the series "Eastern Europe: Political Powder Keg" which is described below. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Eastern Europe: Political Powder Keg |
| Recommended because this three-part series provides an in-depth look at the troubled history of a part of the world that has served as a linchpin and tinderbox for much of the 20th century. The programs use rare archival footage to trace events from 1900 to the fall of Communism and the rise of democracy. 3-part series, 55-59 minutes each. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), or each episode may be purchased from Films for the Humanities for $130, or $346 for the entire three-part series. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
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| Frontline: War in Europe (2000) |
| Recommended because this is an investigation into the 1999 NATO war against Yugoslavia over Kosovo. It focuses on how the war was prosecuted from the NATO perspective, with special attention given to the diplomatic infighting among NATO officials, both civilian and military, including Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark. In the process, the story of the political constraints, internal divisions, and miscalculations that shaped the war in the Balkans is revealed (120 minutes). In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), or each episode may be purchased from PBS Video at PO Box 791, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-0791 (tel: 800-328-7271). Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Kosovo: Of Blood and History |
| Recommended because to fully understand the recent bloodshed in Kosovo, one must go back 600 years and trace the causes of the undying hatreds that permeate Serbia and the surrounding region. Using eyewitness accounts, maps, and footage both of historic events and of Serbian life, this program examines the ethnic nationalism and religious extremism that have resulted in the long-standing hatred between Serbs and Kosovar Albanians, hatred that continues to destabilize the Balkans during the Milosevic regime (41 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), or may be purchased from Films for the Humanities for $150. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Laibach (1993) |
| Recommended because this is one of the very few documentaries on newly independent Slovenia, recently part of the former Yugoslavia. Regimes have fallen all across Europe and the Soviet Union. Laibach's music, theater and art keep burning the enduring values lost to communist and capitalist states East and West. But their vision of Utopia as the exact negative of totalitarianism drew flak in ex-Yugoslavia, Europe and America and their challenging montages of totalitarian imagery and brute rock and disco rhythms aroused both anger and guilty pleasure. Paradoxically, the Laibach issue seeded the democratic debates that led to the declaration of Independent Slovenia, forcing their critics to revise their opinions of this most controversial group (60 minutes). Available for free loan from the Indiana University Russian and East European Institute. Apparently not available commercially. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Muslims in Bulgaria |
| Recommended because of its information on the little-known Mulsim minority in Bulgaria. Throughout this century, the Muslim population of southeastern Europe has been hounded and periodically massacred. Communist Bulgaria continued the pre-Communist policy of "ethnic cleansing" (a misnomer, since many of the victims are Slavs), attempting to "Bulgarize" its Turkish-speaking Muslims. After a particularly tense time in 1989, Muslims are once again permitted to practice their religion openly, but after decades of official repression, knowledge of Islamic religious traditions is all too inadequate, even among the foremost religious leaders in the country. (30 minutes, color). Available for purchase from Films for the Humanities for $90. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Slovenia and the European Union |
| Recommended because Slovenia is considered geographically to be part of the Balkans, but it has achieved statehood in the E.U. in the hope of differentiating itself from its bellicose neighbors. This program describes Slovenia, a politically stable democracy on a sound financial footing, as a special case among E.U. applicants. The country's record of respecting the rights of its ethnic minorities and its prime location as an economic gateway to southeastern Europe are points in its favor, although the country's low agricultural output and difficult transition to industrial privatization may become stumbling blocks. Observations by Foreign Minister Boris Frlec are included. A Deutsche Welle Production. (25 minutes). Available for purchase from Films for the Humanities for $90. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
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| The Battle of Kosovo (Boj na Kosovu) (1989) |
| Recommended because this Belgrade TV production on the Kosovo battle of 1389 artfully mixes historical fact with legend. This is the defeat by the Ottoman (Muslim) Turks that is still celebrated by Serbs today, and helps explain their strongly negative attitude to ethnic Albanians and Bosnian Muslims. The script for the original play was written by poet Ljubomir Simovic (115 minutes). In Serbo-Croatian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but is apparently out of print. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| The Ethnic Cleansers and the Cleansed: The Unforgiving (1998, 78 minutes) |
| Recommended because of its insight into the recent civil war in Bosnia. In Serb-held eastern Bosnia, a Serbian couple desperately try to learn how their 11-year-old son was murdered and where his remains might be. The only clue is a Muslim prisoner, a family acquaintance before the time of ethnic cleansing. Does he know what happened? Why should he help? Was he himself the murderer? With all the force of a Greek tragedy, the program follows the inexorable process of human self-destruction — but there is no catharsis here, for we are observing not myth, but contemporary history. As this harrowing documentary makes clear, unspeakable grief in time becomes commonplace and atrocities are not the preserve of one side or another. Available for free loan from the Indiana University Russian and East European Institute or may be purchased from Films for the Humanities for $150. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| The World's Most Wanted Man (1998) |
| Recommended because this is a documentary on the hunt for Radovan Karadzic, the notorious Bosnian Serb leader indicted for atrocities by the War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague, but still at large in the former Yugoslavia. This film investigates Karadzic's rise to power, the war crimes committed during his rule, and why NATO and US forces have failed to arrest him (60 minutes). In English. Produced as part of the "Frontline" documentary series. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), or may be purchased from PBS Video at PO Box 791, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-0791 (tel: 800-328-7271). Be aware of of the fact that there is a fine companion website to accompany this documentary film. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Tito and Me (1992) |
| Recommended because set in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1954, "Tito and Me" is the comical story of pudgy, 10-year old Zoran, who lives in an overcrowded apartment with this artist parents, aunt, uncle, grandmother, and horrid cousin Svetlana. Zoran is a quirky child who, to this parents' dismay, adores Yugoslavia's charismatic leader Marshall Tito more than he does his own family. In the rare moments when Zoran is not dreaming about Tito, his thoughts are filled with Jasna, an awkward 12-year old orphan girl. When Jasna says that she is going away for two weeks on a walking tour of Tito's homeland, Zoran is inspired to win an essay contest at his school in order to accompany her on a journey in his hero's honor. Although the tour turns out to be a disaster of itchy rashes, rainy nights and ghosts in palaces, Zoran discovers the strengh of true friendship, and the importance of his love for his family (104 minutes). In Serbo-Croatian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $20. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Vukovar (1994) |
| Recommended because this is the story of childhood friends in Croatia--one a Serb, the other a Croat--who marry, only to be torn apart by the 1990's civil war that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia. Filmed on location in the bombed-out city of Vukovar, Croatia. Very realistic and very violent. Conveys well the terrible human cost the numerous civil wars in the former Yugoslavia in the decade of the 1990s, but probably too much violence for secondary school classroom use. Directed by Boro Draskovic, stars Mirjana Jokovic and Boris Isakovic (94 min). In Serbo-Croatian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $90. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
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| Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation (1996) |
| Recommended because this Peabody award-winning documentary traces the war in the Balkans, from its beginnings in 1987 to its escalation in 1990 to its uneasy, American-brokered and United Nations- enforced peace in 1995. You'll meet the conflict's leaders and its war criminals. Learn how the policy of "ethnic cleansing" was initiated. Watch the shelling and running battles between the warring factions. Hear survivors' tales of atrocities and massacres. And witness the heartbreak of a country and people torn apart by war (5 hours, three cassettes). Episode One: The Cracks Appear; Episode Two: Descent into War (100 minutes) Episode Three: The Collapse of Unity; Episode Four: The Gates of Hell (100 minutes) Episode Five: No Escape (50 minutes). In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but apparently out of print. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| Zagreb |
| Recommended because this film serves as a tour of Zagreb, capital of Croatia, and Hrvatsko Zagorje. Made by Zagreb Tourist Association (30 minutes). In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but apparently out of print. Last Modified: 02/09/2004 |
| The Center for Slavic and East European Studies The Ohio State University 1712 Neil Ave. 303 Oxley Hall Columbus, OH 43210 Phone: (614) 292-8770 Fax: (614) 292-4273 Email: csees@osu.edu |