The Long Road through Balkan History
by Miljenko Jergović & Marko Vidojković
On 23 November 2011, LSEE jointly organised a screening of the acclaimed documentary, ‘The Long Road through Balkan History’. Held in conjunction with the Centre for the Study of the Balkans at Goldsmiths, University of London, the event was a joint initiative of the Embassies of Slovenia and Serbia in London, who also generously sponsored the evening.
Critically acclaimed, the film charts the journey of the two writers - Miljenko Jergović, a Croat, and Marko Vidojković, a Serb - as they drive a Yugo along the more than 700 mile-long road once known as the ‘Highway of Brotherhood and Unity’.
During their travels, the two protagonists stop to speak with prominent figures from the region and visit important historical sites as they seek to understand the break up of Yugoslavia. A journey through the past, present and future, the film has been called the ultimate Balkan road movie.
At the end of the film, we were pleased to welcome Dušan Gajić, the producer of the film, on stage to talk about the origins and development of the film and answer questions from the large audience who came for the screening. The evening ended with a wine reception, during which the lively debate and discussion continued.