Hot Docs 2014: The Agreement Review

The Agreement

The Agreement

Made in Denmark

A practically Strangelove-ian, low-fi fly on the wall look at what seems like an inconsequential border dispute takes centre stage in this darkly humorous political documentary that once again serves to prove that many mock United Nations found in high schools are as equally effective as the real governing bodies looking for peace.

Top European Union negotiator Robert Cooper, his extensive novelty tie collection, his well placed use of poetic verses, and his team of advisors hope to invite the republic of Kosovo to join the EU. Yet despite declaring an independence from Serbia in 2008 that was recognized in 86 countries, Serbia refuses to let them go. Kosovo’s invitation for EU is in danger over a petty and entirely semantic dispute over border rules and regulations. Cooper has to then come between Kosovo’s speechifying, sometimes sarcastic folk hero turned government representative and Serbia’s delegate: a terse, aloof, former rock musician.

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It’s a world where sadly a complete refusal of an agreement would be more of a success to everyone involved than a partial accord, and one where a single word can delay and derail things for hours. It’s a decidedly unglamorous and completely farcical meeting (taking place in the crappiest of office buildings), and yet there isn’t many other films that are granted this much access to the pettier parts of the geopolitical process. It’s sad and funny in equal measure.

Screens

Wednesday, April 30th, TIFF Bell Lightbox 3, 6:30pm

Thursday, May 1st, ROM, 1:30pm

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Saturday, May 3rd, TIFF Bell Lightbox 2, 12:30pm



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