On the Path

On the Path

Year: 2010

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: Bosnian

Director: Jasmila Žbanić

Drama

Luna and Amar, a devoted young couple, confront unexpected obstacles that jeopardize their bond. When Amar undergoes a dramatic transformation after joining a fundamentalist community, Luna is torn, questioning whether love alone can sustain them on the arduous journey toward a lasting, happy future.

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Timeline & Setting – On the Path (2010)

Explore the full timeline and setting of On the Path (2010). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Post-war era (1990s–present)

The narrative unfolds in a post-conflict Bosnian context, with memories of the 1990s war lingering in daily life. It follows a couple trying to reclaim normalcy while negotiating faith, desire, and personal limits. The story uses intimate moments to show how the past continues to shape present choices, even as they seek stability.

Location

Sarajevo, Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The story is set in Sarajevo, where Luna works as an air hostess for B&H Airlines and Amar serves as an air traffic controller at Sarajevo International Airport. Bijeljina is referenced as the place where Luna witnessed violence during the war, underscoring the trauma that follows them. The film grounds its setting in a post-conflict Bosnian cityscape, where daily life carries the weight of the past.

🌆 Sarajevo 🗺️ Bosnia and Herzegovina 🕊️ War memory

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:12

Main Characters – On the Path (2010)

Meet the key characters of On the Path (2010), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Luna (Zrinka Cvitešić)

Luna is a Bosniak woman who carries the trauma of losing her parents to anti-Muslim violence in Bijeljina. She works as an air hostess for B&H Airlines, seeking normalcy and hope for a family. She loves Amar and tries to balance desire with the boundaries of faith and tradition. Her resilience drives the emotional core of the film as she questions whether love can endure.

💔 Heartbreak 🎭 Drama 🕊️ Trauma

Amar (Leon Lučev)

Amar is a former Bosnian soldier who bears the loss of his brother and the weight of his past. He works as an air traffic controller at Sarajevo International Airport and struggles with alcohol. To escape his demons, he accepts a well-paid job in a distant, conservative Muslim community, hoping to find peace and self-improvement. His evolving outlook tests the couple's bond as they confront divergent paths.

🪖 War veteran 💔 Struggle 🧭 Faith vs duty

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:12

Major Themes – On the Path (2010)

Explore the central themes of On the Path (2010), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💞 Love

The central thread is the fragile bond between Luna and Amar as they navigate personal desires against a shared history. Their relationship is tested not by grand conflict but by quiet tensions shaped by faith and social expectations. Moments of closeness offer healing, yet the weight of the past continually pressures their future. The film explores whether love can endure when memories and beliefs pull in different directions.

🕊️ Trauma

Both characters carry the heavy memories of violence and loss from the war. Luna's refugee history and Amar's wartime experience influence how they trust, forgive, and seek safety. Trauma surfaces in everyday choices—drinking, distance, and the longing for family. The past remains a constant presence, coloring present decisions and emotional responses.

🧭 Boundaries

Amar's acceptance of a well-paid job in a distant, conservative Muslim community creates a new geographical and ideological boundary between him and Luna. The isolated enclave—with its segregated spaces—becomes a symbol of how faith and tradition can redefine life choices. Luna's longing for a shared future clashes with Amar's pursuit of a quieter, self-structured path. The film asks whether personal growth and love can coexist when life paths diverge.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:12

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about crumbling relationships like On the Path

Stories where love slowly crumbles under the weight of clashing worldviews.For viewers who appreciated the intimate portrayal of a marriage strained by differing paths in On the Path. This collection features other dramas where love is tested by fundamental differences, personal crises, and the slow, melancholic erosion of a once-strong bond.

melancholicsomberintrospectiveemotionaltroubledquiettenseheavy

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically chart the course of a relationship from a place of initial connection to a state of profound separation. The central conflict is internal and psychological, arising when one partner undergoes a significant change—be it religious, ideological, or personal—that the other cannot follow, leading to a heartbreaking but inevitable divergence.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the internal dynamics of a failing relationship. They share a melancholic tone, a slow, observational pacing that allows the emotional weight to settle, and a heavy, often bittersweet, emotional core centered on loss and acceptance.

Movies about ideological isolation like On the Path

Character studies of individuals drawn into insular communities, straining their outside ties.If you were captivated by the theme of a character being drawn into a fundamentalist community in On the Path, explore these similar stories. They delve into the psychological effects of ideological immersion, the tension between group belonging and individual identity, and the painful isolation it can create.

claustrophobictensetroubledpsychologicalintrospectivesomberemotionalisolated

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character's journey into a community with a strict belief system, exploring the initial appeal of belonging and purpose. The central conflict emerges as the demands of the group clash with the character's former life and relationships, creating a sense of claustrophobia and forcing a painful choice between two worlds.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their exploration of a specific psychological dynamic: the allure and danger of ideological extremism or intense group belonging. They share a tense, often claustrophobic mood, a focus on internal conflict, and themes of identity crisis and the high personal cost of devotion.

Unlock the Full Story of On the Path

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On the Path Summary

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On the Path Summary

On the Path Timeline

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On the Path Timeline

On the Path Spoiler-Free Summary

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On the Path Spoiler-Free Summary

More About On the Path

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about On the Path: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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