Angelina Jolie has announced that she’ll be starring in an upcoming love story set during the Bosnian war, which will see her return to the Bosnian and Herzegovinian capital of Sarajevo after recently visiting for her humanitarian work with the United Nations.
Through a statement via the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Jolie revealed that the film will explore the effect of the war on the relationship of a couple who meet on the eve of battle. “The film is a love story, not a political statement,” she added. “I would like to involve as many local people as possible and learn as much as I can.”
No further details were provided of the production though it does sound somewhat similar to Margaret Mazzantini ‘s novel “Venuto Al Mondo” which is currently being adapted and pegged as a reunion for Sergio Castellitto and his “Don’t Move” star Penelope Cruz.
The two were reported to be on board for a flashback-heavy story of a mother and her adolescent son who return home to war-torn Sarajevo to search out their common roots; also set before, during and after the Balkans conflict of the ’90s. Cruz had been noted to be on board with male leads being chased at the time including Javier Bardem and Benicio Del Toro. Shooting was set to take place in Rome, Belgrade, Croatia as well as Sarajevo where Jolie announced her own film.
Whether or not they’re the same project remains to be seen but, from the remnants of translated synopses of Mazzantini’s novel, it is uncanny how much it fits Jolie’s description of her film.