The war in Bosnia has been a topic of some interest around my home because of close, personal connections with people who lived through it. I have had the opportunity to talk at length with people who experienced Shot Through the Heart (which is how I learned of the film in the first place). From being forced from their homes to seeing people shot in the streets while trying to get water these people can vouch for the types of events depicted right down to the snipers shooting children.

The story is about Vlado and Slavko who are the best of friends and Olympic level sharpshooters. Tension is high in Bosnia but Vlado believes the civilized nations of the world will not allow war to break out there. Slavko is called to serve in the Serbian military shortly before the bombs begin to fall.

The Serbs have a better trained military, are better equipped, and have a better vantage point. The citizens of Sarajevo put forth all their efforts into basic survival with the meager resistance they muster unable to push back the Serbs.

Vlado helps train some of the civilians but doesn’t use his shooting skills until his friend’s daughter is killed by a sniper. Knowing the shooter had to have been trained by Slavko, a growing resentment darkens his heart when Vlado learns his friend is committing similar atrocities. Vlado must decide if he can bring himself to shoot his friend in order to stop his murderous rampage.

This movie is based on a true events (not just the war but the conflict of the sharpshooter friends at the core of the story) told in a magazine article called "Anti-Sniper." It has been dressed up for Hollywood a bit, of course. I should note that I've seen some online debate over exactly which sections of the story are actually true. My source is someone who personally knew John Falk, who wrote the original article. The few comments I've seen from him about the film agree with what I have been told and suggest that my source is more trustworthy than the anonymous internet posters. So whatever the precise details may be, yes there really were two sharpshooter friends who were put at odds thanks to the war.

The most notable example of the creative license taken is that

***MAJOR SPOILER!!! (highlight to read)***

Vlado, in real life, did not shoot Slavko. In fact, both men lived through the war, although they were no longer friends at the end. I can’t say what later years held for either one of them.
***END SPOILER***

Knowing this is largely non-fictional gives it a weight that fiction can't always achieve. In fact, it can be hard to watch. For some it has sentimental value but brings back hard memories. For me it is an educational glimpse at some of what friends of mine went through.

Though they are years apart and not related other than being about the same war, Shot Through the Heart and No Man’s Land are excellent companions. The former shows a broad view of the war including its beginning and how people in Sarajevo reacted to it. The latter starts in the middle of the war and shows the people fighting on the front lines as well as some of the politics including the frustrating ineffectualness of the United Nations. If you want to know more about the conflict Shot Through the Heart followed by No Man’s Land will help you learn.

The film is a relatively low budget production which shows through. It doesn't have the polish and shine of a big production. It's not flashy with complex battle choreography or bullets flying slow-motion Matrix style. If you want big effects you might get bored in that respect. If you want a more gritty reality simply told then this is worth the time.

Acting is good particularly with the two male leads, Vincent Perez and Linus Roache. Despite this being a non-theatrical movie with low distribution it is of that quality. All the Bosnians I know give it their stamps of approval even though it’s made for English audiences. Speaking of which, if you don’t like reading subtitles, don’t worry; the movie is entirely in English even though that takes away from the realism a little.