A View of the Mosque from the Emperior's Bridge, Sarajevo 2026
The International Film Festival opens tomorrow night in Sarajevo with 15 separate showings of 'Fatherland.' The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 79th Cannes Film Festival on 14 May 2026, where Pawlikowski won the Award for Best Director. The film revolves around a trip made by Thomas Mann and his daughter during the cold war. The Mann Family were part of the Hanseatic class who were a group or class of first families who were recognised in Germany. Republican in nature they were considered by many in the day to hold greater power than European royality. But a republic of citizens is not automatically a democracy of equals. To read more about the film and its development please see the link below. So many echoes fall through, so I thought to thread the historical city voice through and see how it might lay down for me. You might enjoy it.
Plot Summary:
In 1949, Klaus Mann, struggling with his writing, refuses sister Erika’s invitation to join their father, Thomas Mann, in Germany. Thomas travels to Frankfurt and Weimar to receive Goethe Prizes, insisting that art transcends political borders despite Cold War tensions. Erika confronts her former husband, Gustaf Gründgens, over his Nazi associations, before learning that Klaus has died by suicide. In Weimar, Thomas encounters East German censorship when a dissident is seized by the Stasi. Grief shadows the journey. Later, Thomas and Erika enter a bomb-damaged mansion, where organ music moves Thomas to tears as Erika quietly comforts him in silence.
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Back to the Mosque:
Constructed by Isa-beg Isaković and dedicated to Sultan Mehmed II, the Emperior's Mosque was built in 1457 CE. Located on the banks of the Miljacka river it has been dismantled, rebuilt and added onto a few times down the years, and most especially during WWII and during the war in the 1990s.
But if you look closely directly behind the domes in the distant hills you can see a cross shining on the hillside. It's the cross of the Franciscan Monastery in Fonjnica. Founded in 1339/40 it was the first Franciscan vicariate in Bosnia and the province itself is the only institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina which has operated uninterruptedly since the Middle Ages.
And between the Mosque and the Monastry there's a brewery. Another first. The Sarajevska Pivara has been operating since mid 1800s, what 'ails' ya takes on a new form when one considers its landmarked positioning. It's all good fun.
I have added a link to a Wikipedia article which is worth a few minutes for anyone who has an interest:
"Friar Anđeo Zvizdović of the Monastery in Fojnica received the oath on May 28 of 1463 at the camp of Milodraž.
The Ahdname of Milodraž stated:
"I, the Sultan Khan the Conqueror, hereby declare the whole world that, the Bosnian Franciscans granted with this sultanate ferman are under my protection. And I command that:
No one shall disturb or give harm to these people and their churches! They shall live in peace in my state. These people who have become emigrants, shall have security and liberty. They may return to their monasteries which are located in the borders of my state. No one from my empire notable, viziers, clerks or my maids will break their honour or give any harm to them!
No one shall insult, put in danger or attack these lives, properties, and ..."
Plot Summary:
In 1949, Klaus Mann, struggling with his writing, refuses sister Erika’s invitation to join their father, Thomas Mann, in Germany. Thomas travels to Frankfurt and Weimar to receive Goethe Prizes, insisting that art transcends political borders despite Cold War tensions. Erika confronts her former husband, Gustaf Gründgens, over his Nazi associations, before learning that Klaus has died by suicide. In Weimar, Thomas encounters East German censorship when a dissident is seized by the Stasi. Grief shadows the journey. Later, Thomas and Erika enter a bomb-damaged mansion, where organ music moves Thomas to tears as Erika quietly comforts him in silence.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Back to the Mosque:
Constructed by Isa-beg Isaković and dedicated to Sultan Mehmed II, the Emperior's Mosque was built in 1457 CE. Located on the banks of the Miljacka river it has been dismantled, rebuilt and added onto a few times down the years, and most especially during WWII and during the war in the 1990s.
But if you look closely directly behind the domes in the distant hills you can see a cross shining on the hillside. It's the cross of the Franciscan Monastery in Fonjnica. Founded in 1339/40 it was the first Franciscan vicariate in Bosnia and the province itself is the only institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina which has operated uninterruptedly since the Middle Ages.
And between the Mosque and the Monastry there's a brewery. Another first. The Sarajevska Pivara has been operating since mid 1800s, what 'ails' ya takes on a new form when one considers its landmarked positioning. It's all good fun.
I have added a link to a Wikipedia article which is worth a few minutes for anyone who has an interest:
"Friar Anđeo Zvizdović of the Monastery in Fojnica received the oath on May 28 of 1463 at the camp of Milodraž.
The Ahdname of Milodraž stated:
"I, the Sultan Khan the Conqueror, hereby declare the whole world that, the Bosnian Franciscans granted with this sultanate ferman are under my protection. And I command that:
No one shall disturb or give harm to these people and their churches! They shall live in peace in my state. These people who have become emigrants, shall have security and liberty. They may return to their monasteries which are located in the borders of my state. No one from my empire notable, viziers, clerks or my maids will break their honour or give any harm to them!
No one shall insult, put in danger or attack these lives, properties, and ..."