Do You Remember Dolly Bell? (1986)

Director Emir Kusturica is known outside of his native Bosnia for films such as ARIZONA DREAM, UNDERGROUND and BLACK CAT, WHITE CAT. This early example of his work was shot in his home country in the early 1980s (when it was still known as Yugoslavia), is set in the 1960s, and follows the fortunes of a young man named Dino (Slavko Stimac). Enthralled by the life that flashes before his eyes in the local cinema, Dino becomes enamored of the criminal life, and enters into a life of petty crime. But when he is rewarded for his work via a liaison with local prostitute Dolly Bell (Ljiljana Blagojevic), his world is turned upside down as he falls in love with her. Showing signs of the stylistic flair that Kusturica was to effectively deploy in later movies, DO YOU REMEMBER DOLLY BELL? is a must-see for fans of his work.

Every day in every way...

I'm really surpised to read the luke warm reviews of this film. It is an enchanting, intriguing story, extremely well written and the acting is some of the best I've ever seen. (Although I think many of the actors were not "professional", at least at the time the film was made). That coupled with its setting in per-war Sarajevo makes it a film not to be missed. This film is not showy but it is deep, politically and emotionally.

The problem seems to be that EK's later films are so frenetic and fabulous that the reviewers just can't see the excellence of this seemingly simpler film. The cinematography is mind blowing. Watch it again, watch it slowly, see how the camera is used, how the scenes are constructed in space and over time. EK clearly knows the history of film. Beyond brilliant. That coupled with the superb script makes this a movie to buy and keep close to the DVD player and your heart.

And finally, I think it is almost impossible to understand Underground, While Father Was Away and Black Cat/White Cat completely without seeing Dolly Bell. September 15, 2007

interesting coming-of-age tale...

You get a slice of life in Sarajevo (before war broke out in the early 90s and destroyed the place.)

Not a great film, not bad either. Entertaining and thoughtfully put together. Worth getting if you like this director's work. June 12, 2007

An early effort from one of the world's best

Three stars is about right for this film. Kusturica has become a phenomenal director, and while some of his more familiar tropes are present here--the anti-hero, extreme zaniness, gypsy music, etc.--this film doesn't compare to his later films, especially Time of the Gypsies and Underground.

That's not to say this is a bad movie; quite the contrary. It's just that Kusturica's later films are so good that this one seems disappointing by comparison.

However, it's worth watching if for no other reason than the interview with Kusturica that's one of this dvd's extras. Kusturica tells about his filmmaking style, his ethos, and how he was influenced by studying at the Prague Film School, as well as by Hollywood pictures from the 1940s to the 1970s. It's very informative, and goes a long way toward helping one understand his later movies. May 27, 2006

Kusturica ... in the beginning

"Do You Remember Dolly Bell?" is Kusturica's first feature film. His talent for telling a story and for seamlessly composing multi-layered scenes is apparent, as are his sincere depictions of humanity. The movie as a whole is quite enjoyable, but unlike some of Kusturica's later works, it is not a must see film.

The image quality of the DVD is very poor. To my eyes it looks like that this is mostly due to the condition of the original film material, not the quality of the DVD transfer. October 19, 2005

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