Though the plot deals with a very powerful story, it manages to turn it into a cliché of good versus evil. No human component was there. Only villainous foot-soldiers taking pleasure from tormenting docile and good-hearted victims. The movie is simplistic to the point of mocking the tragic story by turning it into a caricature. It contends with many cold-war propaganda B-movies. OK to watch if you're into brainless depictions of good versus evil stories, but otherwise very poor. Even though the characters were pretty shallow, the acting was generally good. The lack of soundtrack also added to accentuating some of the scenes. The mention of awards though is honestly surprising.

This movie is a long, painful description of a horror-labor-camp on Balkan. The idea with this movie, is however very hard for me to understand. There is nothing in the story that leads it on to somewhere. It just stands still without a (obvious) purpose. The scenes are not very interesting, since they mostly are the same, and even though the situation actually changes a bit, nothing interesting happens. I might have missed something here, but it must have been quite a lot I missed, in that case, cause this movie is not worth seeing. Unless it has some semi-documentary value, it can be thrown away, if you ask me. Do not see it.

how come this movie has not as many as 5 voters when it is 10 times better than anything sodherberg has done? well, probably because of the lousy distribution and the fact that it is Macedonian (maybe it's the same thing). however, this movie has been made out of a brilliant book, without any greater disturbances and it is worth the time you will spend with it. i don't believe that anybody will read this review, but if there is someone like that, consider that it was nominated for an oscar.

It's 1946. Civil war in Greece is just over. Communists, the leaders of the resistance, are defeated. The winning forces and the new authorities are settling accounts with the enemies - communists. They are closing them into concentration camps. One of the camps is on stone island with no water and plants where the cruel sun is burning the ground. Between campers are also three Macedonians. Not the best Macedonian movie but still worth of looking.