“Scream for Me Sarajevo” Featuring Bruce Dickinson a Must-See

A great thing about attending concerts is the chance to be in the moment and forget about your problems. That could mean disregarding a bad day at work for a couple hours, or a fight with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Or maybe you’re simply feeling down and you come out of the show feeling revitalized.

But imagine living in the middle of a war zone and having the opportunity to experience an extremely rare live show by your favorite artist. To forget for a couple of hours about living under constant siege, where shelling and snipers looking to destroy your city, and the very real possibility of getting caught in the cross fire, is a fact of everyday life. Now that’s the true power of music.

That’s also the story behind the excellent new documentary, “Scream for Me Sarajevo,” about Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson’s foray into ground zero of the Bosnian War in December 1994 to play an underground show for music-starved metalheads. The DVD and soundtrack, which spans Dickinson’s solo career, will be released on Friday, June 29.

The film, told through present-day interviews with Dickinson, who returns to the city, members of his then Skunkworks solo band, and organizers and attendees, along with archival footage of the war and the concert, is mesmerizing, terrifying and uplifting all at once.

The story is not just about Dickinson. In fact, he doesn’t enter the film until 30 minutes in, though his recollections are certainly emotional and captivating. But the film is really about the resiliency of the human spirit of the fans who looked to music as an escape from war, and the UN representatives who organized the show at their own peril.

The film starts as a history lesson, with those who were there telling how a lively city, one which had hosted the Winter Olympics in 1984, seemingly out of the blue became the target of a war that broke out in 1992 between the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and those of the self-proclaimed Bosnian Serb and Bosnian Croat entities.

When Dickinson accepted an invitation to perform in Sarajevo, the show had to remain top secret so as not to attract enemy fire. Word filtered through the underground music scene of a special concert to be held in a small venue. In drips and drabs word began to spread that Bruce Dickinson, revered among Sarajevo metal fans, was the guest performer. The anticipation reaches a fever pitch. The show went off without a hitch and there is footage from the concert showing the pure euphoria of fans and band alike.

Those who attended the concert speak 24 years later with tears in their eyes and an over swell of emotion as they recall the war and the pure joy of being able to attend Dickinson’s show. Dickinson recalls himself and his band immediately being given helmets and flak jackets upon their arrival and being told that they could not be guaranteed safe passage through the city. Yet they never harbor doubts about moving forward.

Bassist Chris Dale and drummer Alessandro Elena also have big roles in the film as they recall the surreal experience. An especially powerful moment is watching Dickinson struggling, and ultimately unable, to find the words to describe his visit to an orphanage. At one point Dickinson recalls asking one musician how his band rehearsed without electricity during the war. The answer: “We rehearse with our spirit.” Dickinson is floored by the explanation, and so is the viewer.

The resiliency of the human spirit and the power of music shine through in “Scream for Me Sarajevo.” Whether you’re a Bruce Dickinson fan or have never heard of him, “Scream for Me Sarajevo” is an extremely moving and powerful must-see.

“Scream for Me Sarajevo” Awards

Sarajevo Film Festival: Audience Award; Human Rights Award; Special Jury Prize (Documentary)

Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (USA): Best Feature Documentary

DokuArt Bjelovar (Croatia): Audience Award; Young Jury Award

dokuMfest (Bosnia & Herzegovina): Best Documentary

Tuzla Film Festival (Bosnia & Herzegovina): Best Documentary