I Need It

“I Need It” — the literary diaries of Emir Kusturica, covering the period from 1994 to 2018. In them, the author shares deeply personal — often cynical and contradictory — views on cinema, politics, and human nature. The narrative begins during the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Bosnian War, when the director is working on the famous “Underground,” and spans two decades. The author emotionally experiences the tragedy of his homeland. He describes the absurdity of war and the pain of losing Sarajevo. Kusturica reflects on the differences between the “natural” and the “artificial” in cinema, the role of the director as an alchemist, and the difficulties of making films during a deep crisis. Throughout the narrative, Kusturica questions himself: “Do I need it?” reflecting on the meaning of his actions, the role of the artist in turbulent times, and the desire to avoid failure, both moral and financial, — and immediately answers affirmatively.