Savior (1998)

56% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(4,233 ratings)

After producer Oliver Stone saw Serbian director Peter Antonijevic's political drama The Little One (1992), he sent him Robert Orr's screenplay, which Orr based on the true story of an American mercenary in Bosnia. Orr had been a photographer's assistant during the war. Thus, Antonijevic directed… More After producer Oliver Stone saw Serbian director Peter Antonijevic's political drama The Little One (1992), he sent him Robert Orr's screenplay, which Orr based on the true story of an American mercenary in Bosnia. Orr had been a photographer's assistant during the war. Thus, Antonijevic directed the first 100% American-funded film about the Yugoslav conflict, beginning with a Paris prologue: Former U.S. military official Joshua (Dennis Quaid) entered the Foreign Legion after his wife (Nastassja Kinski) was killed in Paris by Muslim fundamentalists. Six years later, in Bosnia during 1993, Joshua and his pal Peter (Stellan Skarsgard), fight together on the Serbian side. After Peter dies from a grenade tossed by a young girl, Joshua shoots another youth on the side of the enemy. In a prisoner exchange, psycho Serb Goran (Sergej Trifunovic), a Muslim-hater, and Joshua wind up with pregnant Vera (Natasa Ninkovic), victim of a Muslim rape. When Goran threatens to shoot her baby, Joshua kills Goran. After Vera rejects the child, her family turns against her, and Joshua drives mother and child to a refugee center. Eventually, Joshua attempts to get Vera and her baby out of the country, but they encounter death-dealing Croatian marauders. Filmed in Montenegro, Savior was shown at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival and the 1998 Sochi Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Peter Antonijevic, Predrag Antonijevic
Written By: Robert Orr
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International

In Theaters: Nov 20, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Apr 20, 1999
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Filme injustamente ignorado, é brutal em sua mensagem humanitária e traz Quaid na melhor atuação de sua carreira.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A very violent drama that takes a visceral stand against vengeance and ethnic cleansing.
Chris Grunden, Film Journal International
Quaid's stripped-down, emotionally raw performance is a far cry from his last acting job in The Parent Trap.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

Savior is a film that forces you to confront the harsh realities of the world. It doesn't play scenes for excitement or entertainment, nor does it offer an easy escape for the audience. Dennis Quaid goes through hell in this film. He loses everything he loves, and then turns into… More
Savior is a film that forces you to confront the harsh realities of the world. It doesn't play scenes for excitement or entertainment, nor does it offer an easy escape for the audience. Dennis Quaid goes through hell in this film. He loses everything he loves, and then turns into a monster. The film is about his redemption. It could be argued as to whether he is the savior, or if that label goes to the baby he is protecting. Slowly, Quaid regains his humanity, but it isn't some schmaltzy love-fest. It shows Quaid's frustration and anger as part of what makes him human. The film is very grim and hard to watch. This is mainly due to the relaxed style Predrag Antonijevic adopts. Scenes you can imagine containing slow-motion, quick cuts and powerful music, are simply shot and edited as they would happen. It's shocking to see such huge moments played out with such subtlety, but it is also the film's major strength. If you don't mind powerful yet difficult cinema, check out Savior.
Jani H

"You are a good man" Set in 1993 Bosnia, Dennis Quaid plays the character of Joshua, a man who's family was killed by Muslims. Now a mercenary for the Serbs army, he is a hard and bitter man who has nothing to lose. The film is all about Quaid. He gives a very subtle… More
"You are a good man" Set in 1993 Bosnia, Dennis Quaid plays the character of Joshua, a man who's family was killed by Muslims. Now a mercenary for the Serbs army, he is a hard and bitter man who has nothing to lose. The film is all about Quaid. He gives a very subtle performance, in my opinion one of his best. The director, who is a Serb himself, didn't make this film too political. In the film Serbs, Muslims, Croats are equal. There is no discussion about politics or religion. This is more a film about the cruelty of war and its effects on the civilians. This is done in an outermost effective way. "Savior" is a very tough film to watch. Some scenes are very disturbing, heartbreaking and at times depressing. But there is hope in the movie and "Savior" deserves a look. Will have an effect on the viewers...