Balkan-Beat, Eskimos and a Polish Cream Gateau
Eastern Elements in Emir Kusturica’s Film Arizona Dream
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
At first glance, Emir Kusturica’s film Arizona Dream created a grotesque picture of conditions in America. At second glance, it is seen that the strange elements refer to Eastern culture. Behind the conspicuous natural symbolism lurk myths of Eskimos and Siberian peoples, which provide depth to a barely coherent plot. The soundtrack by Goran Bregović borrows from Balkan Roma music. All of this can be understood, for one, as an attempt to undo the East-West antagonism and, for another, points to the director’s growing nationalism.
(Osteuropa 5/2007, pp. 189–200)