User reviews

Until I saw "Scream for Me Sarajevo", I did not understand the emotions nor the incredible amount of pride with which in January 1996 in Cannes, while promoting his new solo album "Skunkworks", Bruce Dickinson spoke to me about his Sarajevo wartime gig. I thought that his stories about driving in a wrecked military truck along the icy roads of Mount Igman and about the magnificent Sarajevo concert that took place that wicked, tragic winter of 1994, were just his own elegant way of trying to get rid of me.

It was as if he was telling me, knowing that I am from Split, the Sarajevo story that begins and ends on the runways around Split, just so he could dodge the "all-time question" about whether he intends to go back to his original flock of Iron Maiden any time soon. Today I understand why I was wrong. I also understand why, even after twenty years that have passed since that gig, Bruce and the boys from his band still clearly remember Sarajevo, "Sarajevans" and all that has happened to that city, its interior and its surroundings.

"Scream for Me Sarajevo" – a remarkable documentary which functions evenly well on at least three different fronts. As a suggestive and convincing documentary with a flawlessly realized story about a unique event – Bruce Dickinson's concert in besieged Sarajevo in 1994; as a documentary reconstruction of a segment of a life lead in a beleaguered and systematically devastated city – a reconstruction entirely deprived of the already well-known and exploited general information regarding locations, politicians, heroes and criminals; and, last but not least, as a fascinating testimony about a peculiar "resistance movement" against death and nothingness.

The resistance movement's main protagonists – unlike the defenders on the battlefield with Kalashnikovs and Zoljas – were all kinds of artists, hardcore professionals and absolute beginners, well-known and unknown creative souls and also teenagers. The kids who, because of their raging hormones or out of spite, in their stubborn attempt to live insanely "normal" lives in a city under siege in which one lives now and is gone the next minute, were seen as a weird and never before seen sort of an urban (we could also say rock and roll) guerilla. Bruce Dickinson's concert, together with the well-known Sarajevo beauty pageant, represents one of "THE" individual moments belonging to that naively utopian, escapist but also heroically rebellious "normality".

For the teenagers of "thenadays", as well as all the "rockers" – whether they were fans of Iron Maiden or not – the performance of Bruce Dickinson was as close to a miracle as it gets. It was a paranormal wraith, a miracle hard to understand. Just as their lives, or better yet their craving for a "normal" life acting as a shield that protected them from the madness of war, humiliation, hunger and even death, seemed unreal and wondrous to their rock-and-roll guests.

Apart from the swift matrix of the main plot, "Scream for Me Sarajevo" offers numerous meandering confluents through which people who have never even heard of Sarajevo or Dickinson can make sense out of the story. Some such elements are the unbreakable Sarajevo spirit and the (black) humor, which were obviously reflected in the selection of favorite songs or bands played on a small but resilient local radio station "Radio Zid" ("Radio Wall"). This wonder radio was playing music as if it wasn't in the middle of a war zone, surrounded by exploding bombs and grenades, but in the middle of Manhattan, Berlin, London... Because, for heaven's sake, it seems that it is only the people of Sarajevo that are able to - amidst constant shelling and sniper fire - embrace the music featuring guitars in burst fire mode, militaristic beats of the rhythm machine and lyrics speaking about fear and death, or, for that matter, cling onto the Bristol's trip-hoppers, not only for the music, but the band's symbolic name: "Massive Attack".

I might be overreacting, but to hell with it because "Scream for Me Sarajevo" represents an emotional niche with a sign above its entrance reading "Walter Defends Sarajevo". Except this time Walter is replaced by Sarajevo's teenagers and some fierce rock 'n' roll.

Translated by Luna Zimić Mijović and Berina Hodzic

Randomly screened on the BBC over Christmas 2020 - what I'd taken to simply be a concert film with some historical framing turns out to be quite a touching and harrowing documentary about the Bruce Dickinson solo band being essentially smuggled into the besieged Sarajevo to play a concert for the people there. It's got a commendably sharp focus and only really speaks to those directly involved - it's an endearingly frank portrait of a painful period of history, but also the spirit of music, the optimism of youth and the wild escapism that can flood into you during a really unforgettable gig.

I thought everything about this documentary was well done. It's an incredible story that I had never heard about. I loved everything about it!

Super deep event, the stuff of life itself on a thin thread between lustful, thoughtful , honest and death by partisan feuding. I was so happy to see this culture exposé which revels in the fortune to stand without shame for a better life at all times. There is a bit of luck here and there, sometimes too little but not to be dismissed and better, sometimes magic to be embraced.

A documentary about Bosnian war (between 1992-95 and more than 100.000 died which took place in the middle of the Europe) and Bruce Dickinson's concert in Sarajevo during the war in 1994. Soundtrack is well chosen from Bruce Dickinson's solo albums and fits the war themed atmosphere. Also it has one iron maiden song too. The war is told not only by narrator is also by fans', Bruce Dickinson's, Chris Dale's (bass player of the band),some officials' and local fans' own words. This makes the documentary more emotional.

In 1994, at the height of the siege of Sarejevo, a British Army officier conceived and executed a plan to have Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of Iron Maiden, come and play a concert. What followed was a harrowing but rewarding experience for the band, and a rare outburst of joy for those who attended. I enjoyed this documentary, primarily because it doesn't overly focus on the supposed heroism of the band. Rather it conveys quite why their presence meant so much to their audience, and the real story told is the underlying tale of how a civilised European country was torn apart long after many of us had assumed that kind of thing just didn't happen here. There's something engagingly, defiantly daft about putting on a heavy metal show amid such tragedy; and this film nicely balances these two sides as it reconstructs the tale.

Congratulations to the team on making such an amazing movie about hope amidst suffering. It was painful to watch the suffering of Bosnian civilians caused by Serb attackers. There is nothing fake in this, you can feel that this gig and that war changed some lives, and they admit to it. When you see Bruce, a UN major and officer, and the rest of the band cry in some point during the movie, you can't but feel the genuinity of the story. Also, to be such an explorer, to come to a city with a raging war going on to play music, is worlds apart from today's understanding of music as a money maker. I really wish to thank Bruce and the gang for displaying such confidence and for providing hope when hope was little. I recommend this movie to anyone that still looks for the good in the world.

I have just watched an amazing documentary. I am a Maiden fan and have seen Bruce many times. I have been to loads of great gigs but I never went to one where I may get shot by a sniper or blown up by an artillery round.

Those who made it happen deserve immense praise for thinking of something as insane as this and then doing something about it. Kudos to Bruce and the band for literally risking their lives for a gig.

Also those courageous and wonderful people who managed to dismiss from their mind all the madness around them and braved potentially snipers and mortars to attend something magical.

The lesson they teach us is you don't listen to music with your ears you listen to it with your soul.

A touching and emotional documentary telling the surreal story of Iron Maiden's concert in war torn Sarajevo in 1994. Filled with interviews of die hard fans who risked their lives just to be at the concert, the struggles of organizing such an event in the middle of a war as well as the experiences of the band members and how that one concert shaped all of their lives. "Scream For Me Sarajevo" is a special documentary showing that the human spirit can't be tied down or defeated no matter the circumstances.

An incredible look into the Dickinson Sarajevo concert of 1994, and a must watch for any Maiden fan, Metalhead, or even just anyone interested in music. Following the harrowing events during the Bosnia war the narrative uses a host of people with interesting and unique experiences to display the environment, before showing the impact that Dickinson had. It's very emotional at times as the stories cut deep into those interviewed, and better people could not have been interviewed. Perhaps a short recap of the causes of the war would have provided some more historical context for the events, as if you're unaware of the war, you can be a little lost at the start.

Emotional, but lacking depth, oversimplified and.constantly striking the same note. From time to time feels like amateur work. Could and should be 30-40 mins shorter.

Still, I would recommend it.

How did I not know about this concert in the middle of this war? This was a fantastic doc -from the fans point of view and from the band POV. It's really moving and really eye awakening (that this could happen in any modern day society in a flash.). It was great to hear their stories and memories. Everyone was affected by this -all who where involved and seemed to be a very humbling POV from the band. Which this event has obviously stuck with them their entire lives/career. And how the people there lived in this daily and they only saw it for a second in the grand scheme of things. It's really great but when I first saw this a couple years ago -it was longer. Had more interviews and some scenes had been re worked or cut. Or even just put in a diff place in the doc. I thought that cut was better. This has happened to several documentaries I have seen in the last couple years. It's all of sudden different and sometimes ruins the entire doc. This was still great. Still emotional. I'm not a fan of this band or Iron Maiden but have great respect for all of them after seeing this. Truly enjoyed it. And if you're a fan of Bruce D or IM -then really take the time to watch this. My husband and my best male friend loved it.

A masterpiece you have to watch.I strongly recommend that you get over the language barrier and enjoy this beautiful documentary movie.

Excellent documentary on Bruce Dickinson playing a gig for the people of Sarajevo during the Balkans conflict. A story I had never heard about & probably would not have if it wasn't for this documentary

The story shows how powerful music can be, bringing so many people together & enabling them to forget about the war for those few inspiring hours.

Such a great guy Bruce!He deserves a statue in Sarajevo.

I am bit intrigued by the real war footage, which looks more authentic and exposed than in some other movies about Bosnia. There is bit of curiosity, empathy, and nostalgia, especially for me as a man who been there during the war. But the musical part is much worse. The only things that attracted me a bit is that rock sound and insight into typical musicians life during war. Also few good philosophies about life, which make me think. But most parts, especially footage of them outside of war, today, is boring, and no makeup. Some form of acne or something on that guys face bothered me. Meaning they should have looked more appropriate, although they are mostly males, so less expectations obviously, and show something more useful in todays footage, instead of ordinary walk talk.