Emir Kusturica
Who was Emir Kusturica?
Serbian film director who won the Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival twice for 'When Father Was Away on Business' (1985) and 'Underground' (1995). He is known for his surreal and politically charged films about Balkan history.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Emir Kusturica (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Emir Kusturica, born in 1954 in Sarajevo, is a Serbian filmmaker and musician known for both his celebrated and controversial films. He studied at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo and later at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. By the 1980s, Kusturica became a standout figure in European cinema. His films are known for their elaborate visual style, dark humor, and candid look at Balkan politics and culture.
Kusturica's breakthrough came with 'When Father Was Away on Business' (1985), a drama set in 1950s Yugoslavia. It earned him his first Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, establishing him as a major director and introducing audiences to his mix of personal storytelling and political commentary. Ten years later, he won another Palme d'Or for 'Underground' (1995), a celebrated and debated epic about Yugoslav history.
Beyond films, Kusturica has explored various artistic fields. He formed the rock band The No Smoking Orchestra, playing guitar and contributing to his films’ scores. He also writes prose, screenplays, and has delved into film production and manufacturing. In recognition of his cultural contributions, the French government named him Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 2007 and Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2010.
Kusturica often explores themes of war, exile, and identity from a distinctly Balkan perspective, attracting both admirers and critics. His films blend reality and fantasy, using surreal imagery and magical realist techniques to explore his homeland’s complex past. Married to Maja Kusturica, he continues to create thought-provoking cinema and expands his artistic work across various fields.
Before Fame
Growing up in Sarajevo during the height of socialist Yugoslavia, Kusturica experienced the cultural influences that would later shape his artistic vision. He attended Druga Gimnazija before studying film at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo, where he gained a basic understanding of cinema. His education continued in Prague, then a hub of innovative filmmaking in the Eastern Bloc, where he honed his technical skills and learned from the Czech New Wave movement.
The 1970s and early 1980s were a time of relative cultural openness in Yugoslavia, allowing young filmmakers like Kusturica to experiment with form and content while still working within the socialist system. This environment produced a generation of directors who would challenge traditional storytelling methods and explore political themes with growing boldness, paving the way for Kusturica's rise as an internationally recognized filmmaker.
Key Achievements
- Won the Palme d'Or twice at Cannes Film Festival for 'When Father Was Away on Business' (1985) and 'Underground' (1995)
- Received the Silver Lion at Venice International Film Festival in 1998
- Won the César Award for Best Film from the European Union in 2005
- Named Knight of the Legion of Honour by France in 2010
- Created a successful music career with The No Smoking Orchestra while maintaining his film directing career
Did You Know?
- 01.He built an entire village called Drvengrad in western Serbia for his film 'Life Is a Miracle' and later turned it into a tourist destination
- 02.His rock band The No Smoking Orchestra has performed at major music festivals across Europe, including concerts in Paris and London
- 03.He received the Order of Friendship from Russia in 2016, one of the country's highest civilian honors for foreign nationals
- 04.Despite being born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he holds Serbian citizenship and has been a vocal supporter of Serbian political positions
- 05.He was offered the opportunity to direct 'The Godfather Part III' by Francis Ford Coppola but declined to focus on his own projects
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Knight of the Legion of Honour | 2010 | — |
| Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres | 2007 | — |
| Silver Lion | 1998 | — |
| Cannes Best Director Award | 1989 | — |
| Palme d'Or | 1995 | — |
| Palme d'Or | 1985 | — |
| César Award for Best Film from the European Union | 2005 | — |
| Cannes Best Director Award | 1989 | — |
| Svetozar Ćorović Award | 2013 | — |
| Order of Friendship | 2016 | — |
| Commander of the Order of the Star of Italy | 2017 | — |
| Order of St. Sava | 2018 | — |
| Golden Lion | 1998 | — |
| Silver Bear | 1993 | — |
| César Award | — | — |
| honorary doctor of the Voronezh State University | 2019 | — |
| Czech Medal of Merit, 1st class | 2019 | — |
| Golden Lion | 2016 | — |
| FIPRESCI Prize of the Festival de Cannes | 1985 | — |
| FIPRESCI Prize at Festival of Venice | 1981 | — |
| Sretenje Order | — | — |
| Order of the Holy Passion Bearer Saint Nicholas II | — | — |
| Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres | — | — |
| Order of the White Eagle | — | — |
| Aleksandar Lifka Award | — | — |
| Annual award ACFK | 2011 | — |