Demons of War

The events occur in February 1996, during the early phase of the IFOR mission in Bosnia after the Dayton Agreement. Polish forces, including elements from the 6th Airborne Brigade, navigate international scrutiny as NATO solidifies peace. The narrative follows a rescue mission, an insubordination inquiry, and the mounting human cost of peacekeeping.

Set in the post-war landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the story unfolds under the NATO-led IFOR peacekeeping presence. The Polish battalion operates around Srebrenica, a town scarred by conflict and political tension. The setting emphasizes fortified bases, checkpoints, and a fragile calm amid ongoing violence.

🛡️ Duty & Command

Keller pursues results even at the risk of disobeying orders, highlighting the pressure on a battalion commander in a tense peacekeeping environment. The arrival of Czacki and Kusz introduces a formal challenge to his leadership and raises questions about authority, hierarchy, and responsibility. As the mission escalates, the film probes whether personal courage justifies breaking protocols and risking the unit's cohesion. The eventual transfer of command underscores the price of disputed leadership in war.

💣 War's Toll

The narrative repeatedly brings the toll of conflict to the foreground: wounded soldiers, downed helicopters, and coffins arriving home at the end. Peacekeeping is shown as morally fraught, with soldiers torn between defending civilians and adhering to rules of engagement. The brutal ambushes and relentless pursuit of a fragile videotape illuminate how warfare exacts a psychological and physical price on those who fight. The closing scenes emphasize the cost of duty, sacrifice, and survival.

🎬 Truth & Evidence

A captured videotape and a valuable piece of intelligence become the fulcrum of power struggles between the militia and the United Nations force. Nicol's testimony and Keller's actions probe the value and manipulation of truth in war, where information can change loyalties and outcomes. The revelation that the tape is not what it seems—and that Ivanov carries a different tape—exposes how propaganda and secrets shape military decisions. The film uses this thread to question what is recorded, who records it, and how truth is remembered after battle.