Srebrenica: A Cry from the Grave

Srebrenica: A Cry from the Grave tells the harrowing story of the Srebrenica massacre, one of the most horrific events of the Bosnian War. Directed by Leslie Woodhead for the BBC, it chronicles the systematic extermination of over 8,000 innocent Bosnian Muslim men and boys in the summer of 1995.

The film provides a detailed breakdown of the events leading up to and during the attack on Srebrenica. It features first-hand accounts from survivors, testimonies from Dutch peacekeepers, and statements from government officials. These narratives paint a vivid picture of the chaos and terror that engulfed the town as Bosnian Serb forces, led by General Ratko Mladić, advanced.

One of the most chilling aspects of the documentary is its portrayal of the “Death March.” Thousands of Bosnian Muslim men attempted to flee through dense forests to reach safety, forming a column that stretched for kilometers. Many were ambushed, captured, and executed along the way. The film includes footage of Saliha Osmanović’s husband, who was part of this march, calling out to his son Nermin to surrender while Serb soldiers mocked him. Neither father nor son was ever seen again.

The documentary also sheds light on the role of the United Nations in the tragedy. Despite Srebrenica being declared a “safe area” by the UN Security Council in 1993, the violence continued. It details how the Dutch peacekeeping forces were overwhelmed and unable to prevent the massacre.

The film describes how Bosnian Serb forces separated men and boys from women and children, deporting the latter while detaining the former. Over the course of at least 72 hours, thousands of males, ranging from teenagers to the elderly, were systematically executed in various locations around Srebrenica.

The documentary also touches on the aftermath of the massacre, including the challenges of identifying victims buried in mass graves and the ongoing struggle for justice. It highlights the work of investigators from the UN-sponsored court at The Hague and the UN special prosecutor in bringing the perpetrators to account.