BIRN’s ‘Bowie from Srebrenica’ Film Now Free to Watch Online
BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina’s documentary about rock guitarist Samir ‘Bowie’ Mehic, looking back on his wartime life in besieged Srebrenica before his death in the July 1995 genocide, is available on YouTube.
‘Samir Mehic Bowie – Letters from Srebrenica’, a film directed by BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina journalist Lamija Grebo in collaboration with the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, is now available to watch free on charge online via YouTube, with English subtitles.
The 34-minute film looks at the life of rock guitarist Mehic, who is said to have been given his nickname because he was one of the first people in Srebrenica who listened to David Bowie.
Mehic remained in Srebrenica after it was besieged by Bosnian Serb forces in the spring of 1992. He died in the July 1995 massacres, which have been classified as genocide by international courts.
Grebo has explained that the film originated from a feature story she wrote about Mehic in 2020.
“The need arose to tell a story about Samir, but also about a different Srebrenica, which many people perhaps even don’t know about, in which there existed a rock scene and very serious gigs,” she said.
Grebo, who spoke to his family and friends, as well as other people who knew the guitarist, described the film as “a story that will remain a testimonial about life, love, music and friendship”.
‘Samir Mehic Bowie – Letters from Srebrenica’ was filmed as part of a BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina project financed by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The video editor was Elvedin Zorlak, the editor was Semir Mujkic, and the documentary was produced by Denis Dzidic. Actor Igor Skvarica plays Mehic in dramatised reconstructions during the film.
