This is a well intentioned film about the Bosnian war but unfortunately it doesn't work that well. Despite the powerful message it wants to deliver it doesn't draw one into the story.

Firstly the good points. Angelina Jolie makes a good attempt and achieves a good on location feel. The battle and destruction scenes are quite effective - realistic not exaggerated. It is interesting to see the war from 2 sides with lead characters on both sides of the conflict.

The main problem is in the story and screenplay itself. Maybe Jolie was taking on too much by both directing and writing. There have been more main stream movies about the Balkan conflict eg Flowers for Sarajevo and Behind Enemy Lines. I understand she was trying to make a very Un Hollywood movie but maybe a bit of a more traditional dramatic narrative would have been more compelling. Continuity in the story is lacking as the story is broken up between the love and scenes of fighting and other brutalities. The romance is unconvincing. Needed some serious editing.

The main actress is good but the main actor is a bit cold. Their scenes together are awkward and painful to watch.

Overall feels schizophrenic, disjointed and self indulgent.

This movie is obviously meant as a statement and to raise awareness on some subjects, that especially Americans were not aware of. Europeans might be annoyed (as is evident in some of the comments here),you have to be aware of that. Angelina Jolie is a great actress and she might have watched some great directors work, but that doesn't mean she'd put out a masterpiece with this movie.

The central story does concentrate on the religion more than anything, which leaves out a large part of another conflict (Croatians vs. Serbians) and takes it easy with just Muslims being targets. While the it does only revolve around that (and does a caricature of the main bad guy),the central message is that of trying to understand another no matter our background. Of course the movie does raise some questions. Some subtle and some not so subtle (the ending for example!). Is it enough for you?

During the Bosnian War, the captive Bosnian Ajla (Zana Marjanovic) is brought with other women to a Serbian barrack to serve the soldiers. The commander Danijel (Goran Kostic) recognizes Ajla that he met in a night-club and wooed her and he discreetly protects her. They rekindle their love, but can they trust on each other?

"In the Land of Blood and Honey" is a surprisingly good romance in the brutal Bosnian War and the debut of Angeline Jolie as director. The love story is very well written in the environment of the atrocities and the genocide of the Serbian army and the conclusion is perfect.

I include "In the Land of Blood and Honey" in my list of best movies about this horrible war: "Welcome to Sarajevo"; "Harrison's Flowers"; "Vulkovar"; "Pretty Village, Pretty Flame"; "Shot Through the Heart'"; "Savior"; "Bure Baruta" and "No Man's Land". My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Na Terra de Amor e Ódio" ("In the Land of Love and Hate")