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“Two Wild and Crazy Guys‚ and a Gal” - unresolved trauma and Balkan stereotypes in the music of Emir Kusturica’s film Podzemlje (Underground)

2024; Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts - Institute of Musicology of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts; Issue: 36 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2298/muz2436103d

2406-0976

Ana Djordjevic,

Memory, Trauma, and Commemoration

One of the manifestations of unresolved trauma is associated with the use of Balkan stereotypes and self-Balkanisation in films. In this paper, I explore the connection between unresolved trauma and the music used to express Balkan stereotypes, focusing on a case study dedicated to Goran Bregovic?s soundtrack for Emir Kusturica?s film Podzemlje [Underground] (1995). I analyse the track ?Mesecina [Moonlight]? featured in the film, and observe how the music goes hand in hand with the portrayal of some of the main characters as ?wild Balkan men? associated with a myriad of negative characteristics and stereotypes.