ABOUT THE FILM
THE FILM
The Weight of Chains is a Canadian documentary film that takes a critical look at the role that the, NATO and the EU played in the tragic breakup of a once peaceful and prosperous European state Yugoslavia. The film, bursting with rare stock footage never before seen by Western audiences, is a creative firsthand look at why the West intervened in the Yugoslav conflict, with an impressive roster of interviews with academics, diplomats, media personalities and ordinary citizens of the former Yugoslav republics.
THE PRODUCTION
The film began with production in late 2009 in several cities throughout Canada including Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto, continued in early 2010 in the United States Columbus, Dayton, New York and Washington, and was finalized in the Summer of 2010 in Slovenia Ljublana; Croatia Vukovar,Djakovo, Jasenovac, Zagreb, Gospic, and in Bosnia Herzegovina Sarajevo, Trebinje; Serbia Belgrade, Subotica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Trepca, Pristina, Orahovac, Prizren and Strpce.
THE MOTIVATION
A Canadian perspective on Western involvement in the division of the ethnic groups within Yugoslavia motivated to show that the war was forced from outside – regular people wanted peace. However, extreme fractions on all sides, fuelled by their foreign mentors, outvoiced the moderates, which is why the film presents positive stories from the war – people helping each other regardless of their ethnic background, stories of bravery and selfsacrifice. The disunity among peoples populating the Balkans have marked the last couple of centuries. Let’s start a new page, today, in the 21st century.
THE RECEPTION
“The Weight Of Chains” was completed in late 2010 and premiered in Perth, Australia in December 2010, after which it was shown cities across Australia, Canada and the United States, as well as on worldwide festivals including Raindance in London, Beldocs in Belgrade, BANEFF in Oslo, and many others. The film was broadcasted in front of 644 million viewers on Russia Today – RT and an additional 50 million viewers on Eurochannel in 2014. This film earned its director, Boris Malagurski, the nickname “The Serbian Michael Moore” given by the “Politika” newspaper.
MEET THE STARS OF THE FILM
MEET BORIS MALAGURSKI
The Director’s first feature film earned him the nickname “The Serbian Michael Moore”, given to him by the Belgrade newspaper “Politika” in 2011.
Where It All Started
Born in 1988 to Prof. Dr. Branislav Malagurski and Slavica Malagurski, Boris grew up in the northern Serbian town of Subotica. Malagurski’s last name originates from the Polish town of Mała Góra. In the 17th century, a soldier from that town fought under the command of John III Sobieski against the Turks in the Battle of Senta and afterwards decided decided to stay in Subotica, which is now in the Serbian province of Vojvodina. Malagurski emigrated to Canada in 2005. While studying Film Production at the University of British Columbia, Malagurski became a Canadian citizen and founded the Malagurski Cinema production company.
His Best Known Work
- The Canada Project (60 min, 2005) Malagurski’s move from Serbia to Canada.
- Kosovo | Can You Imagine? (30 min, 2009) Human rights of Serbs in Kosovo.
- The Weight of Chains (124 min, 2010) The reasons behind the breakup of Yugoslavia
- The Presumption of Justice (40 min, 2012) What really happened to Brice Taton.
- Belgrade (82 min, 2013) The story of the Serbian capital.
- The Weight of Chains 2 (123 min, 2014) Neoliberal reforms in the Balkans.
- Kosovo: A Moment In Civilization (46min, 2017) Serbia’s UNESCO heritage in Kosovo
- Like Me a Million (17min, 2019) Malagurski’s first fiction film
- The Weight of Chains 3 (123min, 2019) How our existence is threatened
Festivals & Broadcast
”The Canada Project” won Best Film at the First Take International Film Festival in Toronto and was broadcasted on Radio Television Serbia, while “Kosovo | Can You Imagine?” won the Silver Palm at the International Film Festival in Mexico, as well as Best Film at the BC Days Documentary Film Festival in Vancouver. “The Weight of Chains” was screened in cinemas and festivals worldwide, including Raindance in London, and was broadcasted in front of 644 million viewers on RT and 50 million viewers on Eurochannel. Belgrade” was shown on Radio Television Serbia as well.
MEET THE STARS BEHIND THE CAMERA
This film would not have been possible without the amazing production team that worked on the film, as well as those who helped out along the way in any way they could.
WITNESS THE IMPACT OF THE FILM
Choose from our slides of selected video clips & feel free to search for more on YouTube and Vimeo.
The Weight of Chains
Watch the official trailer for the film that captivated audience accross the world…
Sarajevo
Regular citizens of Sarajevo becoming aware of what they were left with after the breakup of Yugoslavia, what is still being done to them.
Kosovo Liberation Army
How the Kosovo Liberation Army was formed and who their first victims were
Propaganda
Ways in which political elites use propaganda to ebforce a system tha doesn’t help the average citizens of the former Yugoslavia.
Subotica, Serbia
The Premiere and discussion with Malagurski, Slobodan Samardzic, Zvonimir Trajkovic and Skabo at Eurocinema on January 15, 2011.
Vancouver, Canada
Opening remarks by Malagurski and the screening at Empire Granwille 7 Cinema in Vanvouver, BC on February 19, 2011.
Perth Australia
The crowd and interviews at the Piccadilly Cinema in Perth, Australia on December 17, 2010.
Raindance Festival, London
Boris Malagurski talks about his film at the Raindance Film Festival in London UK.
November, 2011
Malagurski talks about The Weight of Chains (In Serbian)
December 15, 2011
Malagurski talks about the upcoming cinematic premiere of the film in Belgrade (In Serbian)
November 29, 2011
Report from the screening of the film at the Jaranje barricades in Kosovo (In Serbian)
December 19, 2011
Malagurski talks about his film on the morning program (In Serbian).
December 19, 2011
Malagurski talks about his film on the morning program. (In Serbian)
January 8, 2012
Report about Weight of Chains in the morning program. (In Serbian)
January 9, 2012
Malagurski is a guest in Vladimir Djukanovic’s “We are Talking” TV Show (In Serbian)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
This film would not have been possible without the sponsors who helped fund the film budget. A special thanks to Branislav Grbovic and his family.
Thank you to all of those who have generously donated to this film project! Without you, this film would not have been completed and everyone who has contributed to the film can proudly say “this is my film, this is our film!“
Boris Malagurski
/film director/
Total Raised: CAD $ 21,850
POLITIKA: “GOOD PEOPLE IN EVIL TIMES”
Exclusive interview with Boris Malagurski in Belgrade, by S. Stamenkovic, August 28, 2010
Read on Politika. rs (Serbian language)
NOVINAR: “WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?”
Article about “The Weight of Chains” in Germany, by Srdjan Marjanovic, October 1 8, 2009
Read on Novinar.de ( Serbian language)
GLOBAL RESEARCH: “BREAKUP OF YUGOSLAVIA”
Article on new documentary film by Boris Malagurski by Bojan Ratkovic, January 7, 2010
Read in English or Serbian
VOICE OF AMERICA SERBIAN SERVICE
Interview with Boris Malagurski in Washington, D.C. by Nikoleta Ilic, April 27, 2010
Watch on YouTube (Serbian language)
SERBIANNA: NEW DOCUMENTARY FILM
Article about Boris Malagurski’s ” The Weight of Chains”, by Bojan Ratkovic, November 2, 2009
Read on Serbianna.com (English language)
KOSOVO COMPROMISE
“Kosovo is completely colonized by the West“, Malagurski for Kosovo Compromise. August 27. , 2010.
CONTACT BORIS MALAGURSKI
Due to a large number of e-mails received daily by “The Weight of Chains” film team, we can not respond to every e-mail, but will read every one and try our best to reply if at all possible.