Lora - Testimonies

Lora - Testimonies demonstrates how in the aftermath of the war in former Yugoslavia, justice still remains to be seen. The film incorporates a trial from 2002 about the torture practices in the Lora prison in Split. Most of the inmates were civilians who were detained without any official charges. It is estimated that between 60 and 70 people were killed here. The film gives a historical reconstruction of the role that the naval base in Split played before and after the siege that began in 1991, complemented by testimony from former prisoners and an interview with a Croat general who trivialises the events. This is followed by a "trial" in peacetime that is stalled by local politicians who openly show their support for the defendants, while witnesses are faced with anonymous death threats. The bizarre low is the judge who uses his opening statement to congratulate the national soccer team on its victory. The performance of a traditional singer singing the praises of the capital of Croatia ("The most beautiful city on the Mediterranean Sea" and "Long live free Croatia") is edited into the film as ironic commentary. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)