The Weight of Chains
An impassioned documentary reexamines the breakup of Yugoslavia through archival evidence, contested testimony, and a sharply critical view of Western intervention.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Dense
- Violence
- Graphic
- confrontational
- sardonic
- investigative
- history deep dive
- political discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize the film's accessible archival investigation and willingness to raise neglected issues, while disagreeing sharply over its overt bias, omissions, and revisionist interpretation of the Yugoslav wars.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film critically examines the roles of the US, NATO, and the EU in Yugoslavia's breakup and the subsequent conflict.
The film presents an alternative account of the Yugoslav wars using rare stock footage and interviews with academics, diplomats, media figures, and residents.
Critical responses repeatedly identify the filmmaker's sarcastic tone, overt bias, and resemblance to Michael Moore's argumentative documentary style.
The film emphasizes rare stock footage previously unseen by Western audiences alongside contemporary interview material.
Films like The Weight of Chains, and why
Fahrenheit 9/11
politically argumentative documentary filmmaking, critique of western intervention, and provocative interview-driven analysis
The Corporation
revisionist geopolitical argument, archival footage, and confrontational criticism of american foreign policy
The Fog of War
documentary investigation of international power, media narratives, and the consequences of western intervention
Movie Details
- Director
- Boris Malagurski
- Release Date
- 2010-12-17
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (26)
Cast
- Rade Aleksic
- James Bissett
- Michel Chossudovsky
- Michael Parenti
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Brew
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Brew
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Brew
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Weight of Chains about?
- An impassioned documentary reexamines the breakup of Yugoslavia through archival evidence, contested testimony, and a sharply critical view of Western intervention.
- What is The Weight of Chains like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Weight of Chains as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as dense.
- Is The Weight of Chains violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Weight of Chains as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Weight of Chains?
- Critics broadly recognize the film's accessible archival investigation and willingness to raise neglected issues, while disagreeing sharply over its overt bias, omissions, and revisionist interpretation of the Yugoslav wars.
- Which films are like The Weight of Chains?
- Films with a similar feel include Fahrenheit 9/11, The Corporation, and The Fog of War.
- How long is The Weight of Chains?
- The Weight of Chains runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Weight of Chains?
- In United States, The Weight of Chains streams on Brew.
