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Kenan/Milena is played by newcomer Mario Drmac. Drmac's subtle characterizations of both his male (Kenan) and female (Milena) side are believable and eerie. He imparts an otherworldly quality to the artistic, gay Kenan. This helps the film's achieve its symbolic contrasting of the aesthetic, idealistic nature of homosexuality against the gritty, hard realism of a country at war.

Balkan film star Tarik Filipovic (ranked #2 in a Croatian magazine's list of "Top 10 Sexiest Croatian Movie Stars") plays Milan. Filipovic is convincing in his role of a masculine, streetwise, gay man who is also a soldier.

Yugoslavian actress Mirjana Karanovic plays Ranka--the lusty, busty, crude and darkly mysterious waitress in the village's local café.

At one point in the film, Ranka befriends Kenan only to later discover he is really a man. As a testimony to war's terrible power to warp our most basic human qualities, the love starved Ranka and Kenan actually descend into a secret sexual relationship with each other.

The thought of a cultured, effeminate young gay man having sex with a robust, peasant woman of a certain age might come off as comical. Yet set against the backdrop of such a desperate setting, their twisted tryst is anything but funny.

The role of Milan's father Ljubo is played by Rade Serbedzija (The Fog, Stigmata, Eyes Wide Shut, Hanna's War). It is through Ljubo's King Lear-like wisdom and fatherly love for Milan and Kenan that the film's message of peace and tolerance are realized. Although a seasoned fighter himself, he realizes the insanity of his country's descent into genocide.

Ljubo comes to understand Kenan's homosexuality and musical artistry as something intrinsically distinct from the horrors of man-made hatred and war. Through his noble ability to rise above himself, Ljubo sees Kenan as the only good thing left in his ruined land, and makes the ultimate sacrifice to try and save him.

Legendary French actor/director Jeanne Moreau (Jules et Jim, Querelle, The Train, Lumiere) has a cameo role as a television journalist. It is in response to her interview questions that Kenan narrates his tragic story. Moreau is also credited as associate producer of the film.

Homosexuality and aesthetics act as metaphors for each other in Go West. Kenan as Milena resorts to playing his cello to try and maintain his sanity. His music, his art, his gay nature are clearly contrasted against all the war driven madness around him. Music is especially positioned as a lone civilizing element in a country falling apart.

Yet nothing in Go West can totally escape the all-encompassing despoliation of Bosnia's inter-ethnic hatreds. All lives, both intimate and public, are forever affected as the devastating consequences of war unfold and the film reaches its surrealistic surprise ending.

Once there a deeper, more terrible truth reveals itself. Even as we witness the unbelievable brutality of Serb forces against Muslims, we learn that their hatred for homosexuals is even more ingrained and pervasive.

Imamovic's courageous first feature has run into a barrage of criticism in a society where Islam, Serbian Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism all play powerful roles. The director has received death threats, religious groups have condemned the film, and Bosnians who have seen it do not want to be identified for fear of attack.

Go West was forced to open with no pre-publicity in its own homeland.

The Sarajevo magazine Walter has led the attacks against the film. Its editor, Enver Causevic, told the BBC news, “The film mixes up the issues of nationality and homosexuality. And that is wrong. By addressing the issue of homosexuality in a film about the Bosnian War, it belittles the real issues at stake during the conflict."

But others find it important that the issue of homosexuality is finally being addressed in Bosnian society.

"I am honestly afraid of being physically attacked if people know that I am gay," 21-year-old Mirsad told the BBC news. Mirsad, who works in the media industry in Sarajevo, used a name other than his own.

Go West makes a powerful statement about peoples' rights--regardless of gender, orientation, or ethnicity. Homosexuality may not yet be an accepted topic in Eastern Europe. But a film like this helps move things forward by forcing people to at least think and talk about acceptance of those who are different.

For gay American audiences, Go West is a potent reminder that the freedoms and rights we have attained as gay citizens should never be taken for granted.

Get more info at GoWest.ba

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