Busy November!

ESN BelUPgrade has had a very, very busy November so far!

After a successful Halloween trip to Transylvania, our team turned their focus to the 2014 Autumn SocialErasmus Week. During this week, ESNers and exchange students across Europe joined forces to help and inspire those in need.

ESN BelUPgrade organized two events for this season’s SocialErasmus week. In addition to donating blood, our members and international students paid a visit to the National Association of Parents with Children with Cancer (NURDOR) three times. Our lovely volunteers helped arrange and pack Christmas gifts and cards and assisted the hardworking staff at NURDOR in other things that needed to be done. Unfortunately, a planned visit to a children’s shelter in New Belgrade had to be canceled due to bad weather. Overall, the week was a successful one, so we celebrated with a 100-member guest delegation from Zagreb!

On November 18^th, representatives of ESN BelUPgrade and the Tempus office in Belgrade held a presentation on exchange programs available for students in Serbia. Students had the opportunity to hear about the existing and future programs, the application procedure, the experiences of former outgoing students, as well as other important details.

And finally...SEEP! Over the last 4 days, two members of our section, accompanied by the outgoing and newly elected ESN Serbia National Representatives, attended the South Eastern European Platform in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. This is one of 6 regional platforms – ESN international events gathering members of local sections from each respective region. They, literally, serve as a ‘platform’ for sharing experiences between local sections with the purpose of improving one’s practice and building friendships. More than 120 participants had the chance to learn about new aspects of our evolving network, discuss important matters, attend workshops, play games and have a “bloody awesome” time! Our delegation had an unforgettable weekend and returned enriched with new skills, knowledge and inspiration, which they are hoping to transmit to their colleagues back home.

Halloween Edition

Halloween isn't a holiday in Serbia? False! Pardon my language, but it's a bloody fantastic holiday observed by all the fun-loving party-goers across the country! 

On a serious note, Halloween is a Western Christian feast which takes place on October 31, on the eve of All Saints' Day (or All Hallows' Day). It is thought to have been initially influenced by Celtic harvest festivals and rituals, later spreading to other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as to North America. However, as most holidays nowadays, Halloween has become largely secularized and commercialized.

The costume-party element of Halloween celebrations has become increasingly popular across continental Europe! And Belgradians sure know how to throw an awesome costume party! 

Dom omladine (Belgrade Youth Center) has hosted the largest Halloween costume party in the capital for years, and this time around will be no different. Up to 2000 witches, vampires, policemen, nurses, hippies, rockstars and superheroes sounds like a good time! If you're in town on October 31st and wish to join the celebration, you can find your ideal (ambient and music-wise) party to attend here: http://urbanbug.net/kalendar-desavanja/nocni-zivot/pretraga.

ESN BelUPgrade will not be in town for the occasion, however... We're heading to TRANSYLVANIA! 
Ever since the publication of "Dracula" in 1897, this historical region of Romania has been associated with vampires and perceived as a 'land of mystery and magic'. Thus it became a popular tourist destination at this time of the year. 

This will be our second Halloween trip to Transylvania. Last year's was a major success, so much so that it sparked interest from Erasmus students in neighboring countries. 

Breathtaking scenery, overwhelming 15th century Gothic castles, medieval towns and well preserved folk customs are only some of the things that make Transylvania a truly special place on the European map of cultural heritage. Add ESNers, Erasmus students and scary costumes to the equation, and you got yourself an exciting Halloween getaway! 

We wish you a spooktacular Halloween! 

(Written by Maja Dragičević)

Must-See Serbian Films

I assume the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Serbian films is our famous film director Emir Kusturica. Emir is indeed one of Serbia’s most prominent and renowned figures in the industry, but our cinematography has so much more to offer. 

Serbian and Yugoslav cinematography has over a hundred year long history, starting in 1896 when the first film was shown in the "At the Golden Cross" café in downtown Belgrade. This took place only six months after the release of the first motion picture in Paris. The 1970s are considered the golden age of domestic film. However, numerous cult movies were produced after this period.

Serbian films are largely war-themed or black-humored, and sometimes difficult to understand for foreigners. Serbian directors are masters of presenting gloomy scenes in a comedic way. 

I've frequently been asked for Serbian movie recommendations. Thus, here is a list of must-see movies filmed in the last three decades that will make you fall in love with Serbian cinematography! 

1. The Marathoners Run the Lap of Honor (Maratonci trče počasni krug, 1982.)

The story takes place in an unnamed small Serbian town in 1935, and focuses on the Topalović family consisting of six generations of undertakers. Though operating out of a prominently located shop in the town, Topalovićs' business is mostly based on illegal activities. One day, the oldest Topalović, Pantelija, dies…

2. Who's Singin' Over There? (Ko to tamo peva?, 1980.)

On Saturday, April 5, 1941, one day before the Nazi invasion of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, a colorful group of random passengers on a country road deep in the heart of Serbia board a dilapidated Krstić & Son bus, headed for the capital Belgrade: two Gypsy musicians, a World War I veteran, a Germanophile, a budding singer, a sickly looking man, and a hunter with a rifle. The bus is owned by Krstić Sr., and driven by his impressionable son Miško. 

3. Balkan Spy (Balkanski špijun, 1984.)

Ilija Čvorović, a former Stalinist who spent several years in a prison on Goli otok, is contacted by the police to routinely answer questions about his sub-tenant, Petar Markov Jakovljević, a businessman, who spent twenty years living in Paris, and has now returned to Belgrade to open a tailor shop. As time passes, he becomes convinced that Petar, a modern man from a capitalist country, might be a spy, and starts spying on him.

4. The Elusive Summer of '68 (Varljivo leto ’68, 1984.)

A high school graduate Pera has entered adulthood and is set on finding the "love of his life". Feeling intense physical and emotional attraction to women, he intermittenly and simultaneously falls in love with a number of women. This leads him into a series of comical situations and also upsets his father, the municipal judge, a Marxist and a man of high reputation… 

5. Kusturica’s movies

Do You Remember Dolly Bell? (Sjećaš li se Dolly Bell), When Father Was Away on Business (Otac na službenom putu), Time of the Gypsies (Dom za vešanje), Arizona Dream, Underground (Podzemlje), Black Cat, White Cat (Crna mačka, beli mačor), Life Is a Miracle (Život je čudo).

6. The Wounds (Rane, 1998)

The film revolves around juvenile delinquency in a post-communist society struggling with conflict, sanctions and winds of transition. It follows the fate of two teenage boys, Pinki and Švaba, growing up in Novi Beograd during the 1991-1996 period. Pinki is more thoughtful and articulate, while Švaba is moody, impulsive, and prone to anger outbursts. Like many of their peers, longing for recognition and a luxurious lifestyle, they enter the world of crime at the age of fourteen...

7. The Dagger (Nož, 1999. )

The plot is based on Vuk Drašković's novel of the same name. The story follows the life of Ilija Jugović/Alija Osmanović and depicts the horror and absurdity of ethnic partitions.

8. When I Grow Up, I'll Be a Kangaroo (Kad porastem biću kengur, 2004)

This movie consists of three parallel stories: of a young man dating a model, two guys who do nothing but hang around and get high, and of two other guys who just go the betting shop and cheer for their friend who is playing for Manchester.

9. Tears for Sale (Čarlston za Ognjenku, 2008.)  

A story about two sisters living in the 1930's in a village without men. They had all gone to war and haven't come back. So their plan is to kidnap some men from the city and bring back life to the village. 

10. The Parade (Parada, 2011)

The movie is about the struggles of the LGBT population in Serbia and their attempt to take part in the 2011 pride. A wedding-planner and gay activist Mirko seeks help from a homophobic gangster called Lemon, offering to help him with his wedding preparations in return. Interestingly, Lemon invites his civil war enemies to join the mission...

11. Montevideo, God Bless You! (Montevideo, Bog te video, 2011) and See You in Montevideo (Montevideo, vidimo se, 2014)

This popular film series is about a young, talented football team and their amazing journey to the 1930 World Cup.