Welcome to Sarajevo 1997

As the war-ravaged city of Sarajevo endured its siege in 1992, ITN reporter Michael Henderson ventured into the heart of chaos, joined by a fellow journalist, Jimmy Flynn. Their relentless pursuit of the truth was fueled by Flynn’s unquenchable thirst for the next big story. Amidst the debris and destruction, they found comfort and camaraderie in each other’s company, engaged in friendly debates and discussions during their reporting at the Holiday Inn—an unexpected refuge for the beleaguered press corps.

Their journalism led them into the most heartbreaking situations, where the suffering of the people of Sarajevo was all too evident. In this climate of despair, Henderson crossed paths with Risto Bavić, a translator brought on board by ITN after their previous one fell short. Together, they witnessed the heartbreaking realities faced by the children at Ljubica Ivezic’s orphanage—an improvised sanctuary on the front lines where two hundred vulnerable children sought to endure amidst relentless shelling.

As Henderson immersed himself deeper into the conflict-ridden landscape, he became determined to share the harrowing narrative of Sarajevo’s children with the world. His endeavors culminated in a pivotal report from the orphanage that set off a series of events destined to change lives. When Nina, an American aid worker, orchestrated a UN-sanctioned bus evacuation for Sarajevan children headed for Italy, Henderson successfully persuaded her to include Emira—a young Bosniak girl to whom he had pledged his assistance.

Their treacherous journey began as Henderson and his cameraman assumed the role of journalists on a quest to document every moment of the evacuation. Yet, the Bosnian Serbs were unyielding, continuously obstructing the bus’s path. The final encounter was particularly distressing, with armed Chetniks stopping the bus and forcibly taking the Bosniak orphans away, ignoring the pleas of those desperate for a brighter future.

Returning to London with Emira in tow, Henderson officially welcomed her into his family. However, the peace was short-lived when news reached him from Sarajevo that Emira’s estranged mother was searching for her—an awakening that drove Henderson back into the conflict, now treading through the murky waters of organized crime. There, he reconnected with Risto, now a soldier fighting for Bosnia’s freedom.

As Henderson pursued the truth surrounding Emira’s history, he unearthed a tangled web of family secrets and societal pressures. He learned that Emira had been placed in an orphanage by her mother during infancy, a loss borne out of societal expectations. Tragedy struck when Risto fell victim to a sniper’s bullet, a harsh reminder of the realities that plagued their daily existence. To aid him in his quest, Henderson turned to Zeljko, a resourceful concierge at the Holiday Inn, who had previously benefited from Henderson’s help. With Zeljko’s expertise in navigating the dangers of snipers and roadblocks, Henderson sought to reach Emira’s mother, whose desire to reclaim her daughter wrestled with the harsh realities of the situation. Ultimately, out of resignation, she opted for Emira to remain with her new family in England, signing the adoption papers.

The film punctuates its serious tone with a recurring joke highlighting the stark contrast between the suffering in Sarajevo and the global perspective on crises. A UN official’s proclamation that Sarajevo ranked as only the 14th worst crisis in the world serves as a darkly humorous motif that underscores the city’s tragic circumstances. In defiance of the dire conditions, Harun, a cellist friend of Risto, declares his intent to hold a concert on the streets to mark Sarajevo as the worst place on Earth. Despite the danger, he passionately declares, > “the people will die happily listening to my music.” The poignant climax occurs as Harun performs a “concert of peace” on a hill overlooking the devastated city, drawing hundreds of Sarajevans, including Henderson, Flynn, and several children from the orphanage to share in the beauty of the music. As the concert concludes, Henderson shares a bittersweet smile with Harun; the beautiful melodies serve as a stark reminder that Sarajevo has indeed earned the grim title of the worst place on Earth.

In the end credits, it’s revealed that Emira remains in England, her fate a poignant reminder of the heartbreaking toll of war and the struggles of displacement.