Dara of Jasenovac is a Serbian-language war drama film directed by Predrag Antonijević. The movie serves as a tribute to the victims of the Jasenovac concentration camp, which was one of the largest concentration camps in Europe during World War II. The film is based on real-life events and characters.
Dara is a young girl who is sent to Jasenovac along with her mother and two brothers. Jasenovac was under the control of the fascist Ustasha regime, which was in power in Croatia at the time. The regime was notorious for its persecution of Jews, Serbs, Roma, and other minorities.
Dara and her family are separated upon arrival at the camp. Dara is taken in by a group of women who try to protect her from the horrors of the camp. However, Dara soon discovers the true nature of Jasenovac when she witnesses the brutal killing of a group of children.
Throughout the film, Dara and the other prisoners of Jasenovac are subjected to torture, starvation, and medical experiments. The Ustasha guards are portrayed as sadistic and cruel, with no regard for human life.
Despite the harrowing subject matter, the film is ultimately a story of hope and resilience. Dara and the other prisoners of Jasenovac find comfort in each other and try to hold on to their humanity in the face of unspeakable horrors.
Dara of Jasenovac was a critical and commercial success in Serbia and has been praised for its emotional depth and historical accuracy. The film was Serbia's official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards.
