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Dennis Quaid, Nastassja Kinski, Stellan Skarsgård, Natasa Ninkovic, Sergej Trifunovic ... see more see more... , Nebojsa Glogovac , Vesna Trivalic , Dusan Perkovic , John Maclaren

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 mercen... read more read more...ary 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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76% liked it

4,264 ratings

Critics

56% liked it

9 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Peter Antonijevic, Predrag Antonijevic

Release Date: November 20, 1998

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DVD Release Date: April 20, 1999

Stats: 186 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (186)

  • kiriyamakazou
    October 6, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    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... read more 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.
  • TheMachinist
    January 2, 2009
    TheMachinist
    "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 performanc... read moree, 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...
  • HorrorMovieCinema
    June 24, 2009
    HorrorMovieCinema
    "Hope is worth fighting for."


    Joshua is a former U.S. military official who fled to the Foreign Legion when his wife Maria was killed
    by Muslim fundamentalists in Paris, and now he's a mercenary
    , fighting in the Yugoslav war on the Serbian side against Muslims.
    ... read more


    : Guy: Sorry about your family.
    : Vera: : It's war.
    : Guy: : Don't any of the tits in this country work?
    : Guy: : Oh, you're a billy goat. I need a Biljana.
  • chowyunglock
    March 7, 2007
    chowyunglock
    I can't believe there hasn't been more movies about the Yugoslav Wars of 1991 to 2000. The cruelty of war and IMHO, an example of why the only hope for besieged ethnic minorities in this world is the Kalashnikov.

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Critic Reviews

Pablo Villaca
August 31, 2007
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
August 21, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A very violent drama that takes a visceral stand against vengeance and ethnic cleansing. Full Review

Chris Grunden
January 1, 2000
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. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Derek Elley
March 26, 2009
Derek Elley, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Kevin Thomas
February 14, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Gary Dauphin
January 1, 2000
Gary Dauphin, Village Voice

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

November 20, 1998
Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Savior Trivia

  • In which movie is Keanu Reeves is the Savior of man kind by fighting demons?  Answer »
  • What movie does this quote come from? ?You wrote that the world doesn?t need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one.?  Answer »
  • Complete the line from the smash-hit film "Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace": Jobe: "In here, I am the _______."  Answer »
  • In which movie Did the Savior of the World die for you and me and pay for all of our sins, and give us eternal life- " I am the way the truth and the life no man commeth to the Father except through me . (joh 14:6)  Answer »
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