The Specter of Ethnonationalism: Films from the Post-Yugoslav period (original) (raw)

This paper explores the complex interplay between ethnonationalism and post-Yugoslav cinema, examining how conservative political elites have shaped cultural narratives in the aftermath of the Yugoslav Wars. It analyzes five key films from the post-war period—'Underground,' 'How the War Started on My Island,' 'Pretty Village, Pretty Flames,' 'The Perfect Circle,' and 'The Dagger'—to understand the extent to which these films reflect or resist dominant political ideologies. The findings suggest that while certain films question elite narratives, primordialist and essentialist themes remain prevalent, revealing the ongoing influence of ethnonationalist discourses in shaping audience expectations and cultural representations.