Croat suspect to be film ‘hero’

[rorygilmore]

A Croatian film director has cast a Hollywood heartthrob in the role of General Ante Gotovina, a top war crimes suspect facing trial in The Hague.

Antun Vrdoljak said he had given the part to his son-in-law Goran Visnjic, who stars in the television drama ER.

The director said he wanted to make the feature film because Gen Gotovina “is a real hero of the ‘homeland war’”.

Gen Gotovina is charged with ethnic dating atrocities against Croatian Serbs during the 1990s Balkan wars.

He was arrested in December 2005 on the Spanish island of Tenerife after four years on the run.

He is still regarded as a war hero by many Croats.

Mr Vrdoljak said he wrote the script because “we owe a lot to this man”.

Prosecutors accuse Gen Gotovina of belonging to a joint criminal online sex dating with the late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and others.

The indictment, dating from 2001, says they planned the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from their self-declared republic of Krajina in Croatia in 1995.

Gen Gotovina is charged with add a site online dating
for the alleged murder of about 150 Serbs, teen online dating service, and the deportation of thousands.

About 200,000 Serbs - many elderly - were forced out of the region during the offensive.


Old news but still waiting for the release.
Playing the Bad guy again...

[maggie]

I'm extremely disturbed by this, actually. Gen Gotovina may be regarded as a hero by GV's father in law, and by many Croatian people, but he's still a war criminal. His extradition from Spain was something that the international community practically had to twist the Croatian government's arm to ensure, and was regarded as a human rights violation by not seeking justice.

Whatever nationalistic pride this man feels towards Gotovina, I hope his son-in-law can look at this objectively. Pray for historical accuracy, or he'll have the international community on his behind for participating in a propoganda film.

[larue]

Is this the same guy that Goran had a picture of hanging in Luka's apartment at one time??? As difficult as it would be for us to accept that he would be willing to portray this man - heroically - in a movie, we are not in his shoes. We did not grow up in Croatia, did not fight in the war for independence, did not face battle in our back yards, did not have to listen to all of the politicking and public posturing by the government during that time. We also are not looking at a career 'plate' that appears to be pretty empty at the moment. Yes...it would probably be career suicide for him - at least in the US - to do this with Human Rights advocates standing by to vilify him. On the other hand, it may put him back in the good graces of the Croatian nationals who view Gotovina as a hero. He is going to have to weigh the consequences very carefully. But then again, everyone thought that Powers Boothe commited career suicide by portraying the Rev. Jim Jones...and then showing up to accept his Emmy when the actors were boycotting the awards in 1980.

[maggie]

I agree that we're outsiders when it comes to the sentiments, but it's rather foolish, IMHO, to make a film about such a sensitive nationalist issue at this time. Croatia was invited to join NATO literally a few days ago, and is on track for EU membership - but the road EU membership has been controversial, and the arrest of Gotovina was a major factor in the willingness of EU countries to move forward. And given the particularly sensitive time regarding Serbia and Kosovo, is it really a good idea to put out a motion picture glorifying a man who is accused of ethnic cleansing and planned community destriction against Serbs? The US Embassy in Belgrade was torched in February amid riots over the US' recognition of Kosovo. Instability doesn't need fuel at this point.

If it comes down to me standing in the streets, protesting the movie, versus standing near the red carpet begging for GV's autograph, I'll be the one in the streets with the megaphone.

[rorygilmore]

larue said:

Do we know for sure that the movie is moving forward?? I read about this project - and Goran's probable involvement - AGES ago.

Me too. Have looked on more information to update on this and nothing. I guess it's not even in pre production.

[-SAN.]

I'm thinking perhaps they're waiting for the final results of the court, and perhaps GV's understandable reluctance to return to Croatia to film?