Sarajevo Journey (Documentary)

Sarajevo Safari, directed by Miran Zupanič, is a 2022 documentary co-produced by Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The film focuses on a previously hidden event that occurred during the Siege of Sarajevo (1992–1996). It centers on allegations that certain wealthy foreigners, in exchange for high payments, fired upon civilians trapped within besieged Sarajevo during the war, and documents these claims through eyewitness testimonies.

Subject

The central focus of the documentary is the allegation of “human hunting” during the Siege of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, between 1992 and 1996. The film explores the stories of wealthy foreign individuals who paid substantial sums to shoot at civilians living under siege. Director Miran Zupanič traces these allegations, uncovering a lesser-known aspect of the war.

Production Team and Participants

The film is directed by Miran Zupanič and produced by Franci Zajc, who first heard this story and brought it to the screen. The production process lasted more than three years, during which Zajc’s connections in Bosnia and Herzegovina enabled access to witnesses. The documentary features testimonies from two witnesses and three victims of sniper attacks, as well as an interview with a man named Edin, who is described as having served as an intelligence officer in the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Narrative Style

Sarajevo Safari adopts a research-based and testimony-driven narrative approach. Director Zupanič combines firsthand accounts from real individuals, field investigations, and historical documents to critically examine the validity of the allegations. The film is described as a documentary that does not merely depict the military dimensions of the war but also challenges the moral and psychological boundaries of human behavior.

Premiere

The documentary premiered in 2022 at the 5th International Documentary Film Festival (AJB DOC). The screening took place in Sarajevo and was later shown to audiences in Slovenia.

Content

The film includes testimonies from witnesses and victims relating to the events described as “human hunting.” After learning of this story in 2019, director Zupanič and producer Zajc launched an extensive research project, culminating in the documentary through archival work and interviews. Consequently, the content is grounded solely in direct testimonies, media reports, and observational evidence.

Cultural Context

The Siege of Sarajevo began on 5 April 1992 and ended on 14 December 1995 with the Dayton Agreement. During the siege, thousands of civilians were killed, a genocide occurred, and infrastructure and cultural heritage suffered severe damage. Sarajevo Safari focuses on a lesser-known dimension of this historical event, offering a verifiable perspective on the ethical, humanitarian, and social dimensions of the war. In this regard, the documentary stands out as a significant contribution to the cultural memory and trauma narratives surrounding the Bosnian War.