Correspondent Specia: The Serbs' Last Stand

Call Number
350-1-1:619/1

General information

Call No.:
350-1-1:619/1
Part of series
HU OSA 350-1-1 Records of the International Monitor Institute: Europe: Balkan Archive
Located at
BetaSP NTSC #619 / No. 1
Digital ver. identifier
HU_OSA_00000619
Date of air
1999-05-30
Date
1999
Level
Item
Primary Type
Moving image
Language
English
Duration
45 min.

Content

Form/Genre
Documentary film
Contents Summary
Produced in 1998. Correspondent Phil Rees examines the roots of Serbian nationalism; the significance of the 1389 Kosovo battle for the Serbs; Kosovar Albanians and their views of Kosovo history and Serbian nationalism; the post-WWII history of Yugoslavia, and of Kosovo within it; Milosevic's rousing of Serbian nationalism; ethnic tensions during the last decade; the Serbian church as a symbol of Serbian patriotism; whether Milosevic's government will protect the Kosovar Serbs; Serbian nationalists as they prepare for their own defense of Kosovo; the emergence of KLA; and the future of Kosovo if war breaks out. Interviews with Albanians and Serbs illustrate the role of myths in creating ethnic identities, the pervasiveness of distrust and prejudice among the two ethnic groups, and each group's views in regards to the apartheid-like division of their society. Parallel Albanian society within Kosovo is examined through the educational system and other social encounters. Albanian educators reject Serbian curriculum. Crude propaganda, techniques developed under Communism, is now used skillfully to drive Serbs to war.

Interviews featured: Kosovar Albanian civilians; Serb nationalists Kosta Bulatovic and Savo Markovic; Albanian civilians Zechiai Metai and his wife; Pristina Serbs; Serb and Albanian Head teachers Bogi Gogic and Sedat Ramadani; a Kosovo Serb who suffered at hand of KLA; and Kosovo Serb leader Momo Trajkovic.

Footage included: March 1998 Serb security forces attack an Albanian village while an Albanian farmer hides and watches; mutilated bodies; Serbian TV film on the Kosovo Battle of 1389, June 1989 celebration of the Kosovo Battle; April 1996 attack on Serbian restaurant by the KLA.

Context

Associated Names
BBC Two (Producer)