“Quo Vadis, Aida?” is a thrilling recount of the Srebrenica massacre perpetrated by Bosnian Serb troops under orders from General Ratko Mladić.

The film centers around Aida, a UN translator working for Dutch peacekeeping troops, assigned to protect the town of Srebrenica, deemed a UN “safe zone.” The Bosnian Serbs invade the town without resistance and the promised air support from the UN never arrives. The people flee their homes and all try to find safety in the UN compound at the edge of the town. What happens next is heartbreaking.

Aida, played by Jasna Djuricic, can sense the impending doom as women and children are separated from the men. She is frantically running around trying to find a way to save her husband and two grown sons. She asks the UN to protect her family as well as herself. She asks that they add her husband and her sons to their list of protected people who can evacuate safely with the UN troops.

This film was very powerful. It affects you deeply on many levels. The perspective through which the story is told provides a lens into the feelings and emotions running through these people’s heads and hearts. Fear, sadness and anger were consistent feelings through the film.

The film was written and directed by Jasmila Zbanic. It has been nominated for Best International Feature Film in this year’s Oscars.