High School Trip Turns Dark in Serbian Drama "3 Weeks After"

Grab your popcorn, folks, because we're about to dive headfirst into a drama soaked in mean-spirited antics and high school bullying. We're whirling our way through a Serbian countryside outing that takes a sinister turn in the latest drama sensation, "3 Weeks After." This gloomy tale centers around a young man named Zoza (Jovan Ginic), who's now in the hot seat of harassment, after the tragic suicide of his best friend, a previous target of the same tormentors.

Picture this: A fiery adaptation of Lord of the Flies marinated in a grim remake of Gus Van Sant’s Elephant, but helmed by director Gaspar Noé. This movie, unfortunately, isn't dancing to a joyous rhythm. Considering the real-life inspirations that director Miroslav Terzic (Redemption Street, Stitches) claims to have drawn from and his vigorous discussions on youth violence with his cast, audiences might feel they're peering into a grotesquely distorted mirror of the Gen Z experience.

Imagine starting a movie with the visual impact of a building ablaze, devoid of any chaotic scenes or horrified spectators, except for our main man, Zoza, who doesn't seem particularly rattled by the scene. After satisfying his curiosity, our quiet protagonist embarks on a school trip, acknowledged by his classmate, Darija (Anđela Alašević), initiating the unraveling of the horrific incident leading to his best friend's suicide. Buckle up as the unsettling details unfold slowly but surely, giving you fragmented slices of the tragic tale.

Soon, it becomes clear that Zoza played a part in his friend’s demise, but don't be too quick to judge. Our sequestered hero is far less responsible than the bullies who pushed his friend, Andrija, off the metaphorical edge. The movie takes a dark twist when, aboard a hired coach, cliques and subgroups decide Zoza is their next victim.

When they make a pit stop, the notorious bully banned from the trip, Milos Bogdanovic (Andrija Markovic), sneaks onto the coach. The teachers and coach driver, completely unaware of his presence, continue with their journey until they're forced to stop due to a landslide. Only then is Bogdanovic's arrival discovered.

The negligent teachers, Viktorija (Tihana Lazovic) and Markus (Branislav Trifunovic), prove futile. They hide behind noise-muffling headphones, allowing the teens to run amok with no adult supervision. This paves the way for Zoza's nightmarish ordeal as he is hunted down by his peers.

The following scenes are deeply troubling, serving as a testimony to Terzic's cinematographic skills but the director's bleak portrayal of Gen Z seems farfetched. Is the extreme cruelty displayed by these Serbian teens a reflection of a society scarred by war, or is it simply overstretched for dramatic effect? Regardless, one can’t help but question the realism of the movie themes and characters.

As the movie ends with an abrupt cut to black, leaving the audience hanging, one can’t help but ponder whether this is another artistic move or an eventuality we should care about. Perhaps, but who can tell?