by KEVIN LAFOREST

Warfare in the Balkans has never been so joyous. But that’s Emir Kusturica for you. Even when telling a Shakespearian story of impossible romance between star-crossed lovers from opposite sides of the Bosnian conflict (circa 1992), he can’t help but infuse his film with optimism, quirkiness and upbeat music.

In fact, for about half the movie, no one on screen seems too worried that their country is about to go up in flames. Serbian engineer Luka (Slavko Stimac) is busy working on the railroad, his opera singer wife Jadranka (Vesna Trivalic) is working on her latest nervous breakdown and their son Milos (Vuk Kostic) is training to play soccer for the Partizan Football Club. It’s a bit disconcerting when this rowdy comedy turns into a combat zone, but I think that’s the idea. As Luka says, “War is like the tide, you can see it coming, but when it explodes, it’s still surprising.”

In any case, even while bombs are blowing up all around, the mood remains light. For this reason, Life Is a Miracle wears its title well. It’s miraculously full of vitality even when death looms near. And it’s not just the men and women; even the animals are brimming with character. There’s a lovesick donkey who wants to get run over by a train, a badass cat who hypnotizes birds and Croatian bears fleeing the violence.

The film is probably too long at two-and-a-half hours, but I’m not sure what I would cut: the chaotic soccer match that turns into a riot, the hunt organized by the bon vivant mayor or the soldier who uses the satellite phone to call a sex hotline? Certainly not any of the scenes with Sabaha (Natasa Solak), the adorable Muslim nurse whom Luka falls for even though he’s supposed to be holding her hostage.

I’ve heard some hardcore Kusturica fans complain that Life Is a Miracle is a little too much like his 1998 hit Black Cat, White Cat. But for me, it felt totally fresh and original. This is one of the best times I’ve had at the movies this year.

Life Is A Miracle opens Friday, Dec. 3

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