Not So Friendly Neighborhood Affair 2021

In a COVID-19 pandemic-stricken Sarajevo, people move with masks on their faces, fall ill daily, and cafes bear the brunt of a world kept close by lockdowns. By May 2021, Baščaršija, the city’s old bazaar, is quietly trying to bounce back as shuttered shops reopen and residents weigh how to move forward under economic strain. Against this backdrop, the story follows a thread of curiosity, hunger, and consequences that travel from the street food stalls to the intimate corners of family life.

Gordana Anja Matković arrives in Baščaršija as a Zagreb-based gastro vlogger chasing the legendary ćevapi, which she proudly calls “ćevose.” Her visit becomes more than a quick taste test; it’s a spark that lights up the neighborhood with questions about authenticity, care, and what people are willing to fight for in uncertain times. The moment is small, but the ripple effect is anything but. > “ćevose”

In a bid to lift someone’s spirits, Enis Branko Đurić sends Gordana to Izo Izudin Bajrović for a moment of joy and a simple, shared morning coffee. What begins as a kind gesture grows into a wider test of loyalties, as old quarrels and evolving ambitions collide in a city already stretched thin by the pandemic’s pressures. Strains surface quickly, and the balance of work and friendship starts to tilt toward chaos.

The real trouble begins when a friendly nudge edges toward a fracture in two neighboring ćevapi shops. The businessmen clash over how their wares should be made and presented, and the tension spills into the lives of their children, who are involved in a forbidden romance and dream of leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina behind. The lovers’ stubborn desire to escape becomes a symbol of how hard choices and inherited pride can pull families apart when the ground underneath shifts.

As social media and online hype amplify every move, the question of where to eat the best ćevapi in Sarajevo becomes more than a culinary debate—it becomes a social fulcrum that exposes how communities seek belonging in a moment when certainty is scarce. The influencer’s post—whether intended to help or simply to shine online—adds fuel to the fire, turning a quiet disagreement into a citywide conversation about identity, tradition, and adaptation.

With a mounting sense of crisis, Enis’s grip on his business loosens, pushing him toward drastic measures as debts mount and options dwindle. The pressure threads through every street corner, every kitchen, and every family dinner, painting a portrait of a city trying to stay true to itself while facing new currents it cannot fully control. The film navigates these tensions with a steady, empathetic lens, balancing warmth and wit with a sober look at the costs of survival in difficult times.

Ultimately, the story remains grounded in its human stakes: the pull of family, the pull of love, and the pull of a city that must reconcile its traditions with rapidly changing realities. It uses humor to soften sharp edges while never ignoring the real pressures that come with a world suddenly defined by scarcity, online hype, and the stubborn resilience of people who refuse to give up on a place they call home.