New U2 documentary Kiss the Future shines a light on Sarajevo

At the Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale) last weekend, the music documentary Kiss the Future screened for the first time.

Created by Nenad Cicin-Sain, the film provides an unofficial, unlicensed look at Sarajevo's nightmare and shows how Bono's and U2's rock music kept humanity and hope alive. This includes performances in battered garages and bomb shelters while the war raged above.

Kiss the Future tells the story of maverick American journalist and film-maker Bill Carter. Carter is a member of the ragtag expat group of aid workers, musicians, and artists in Sarajevo. When he saw Bono speaking out about the Bosnian war on MTV, Carter was electrified.

With extraordinary tenacity, the director secured Bono an interview for Bosnian TV. He also convinced the band to conduct live on-stage interviews with Bosnians during their Zoo TV tour. Finally, the journalist inspired the band to stage a massive concert in Sarajevo after the Dayton Peace Accords in 1997. Supported by local bands and a Muslim women's choir, the event was a huge success.

Bono and Adam at the end of the Kiss the Future Premiere pic.twitter.com/asYpFZqNVO

— U2gigs (@u2gigs) February 19, 2023

Some people believe that the Bosnian war only 'officially' ended when Bono took the stage and yelled, "Fuck the past, kiss the future!"

While the events could only happen because of the U2 frontman himself, there were limits to what Bono (Paul Hewson) could do during the war itself. The Sarajevo people began to suspect that their pain was being used as set dressing for U2‘s tour, which caused a temporary rift in the love affair between the band and the Bosnians.

However, U2 became instrumental in keeping the entertainment world's attention on the Bosnian war. Perhaps there wasn't space for it in the documentary, but it's worth remembering how much the word 'Sarajevo' frightened people. Many believed that military intervention in Bosnia would lead to another war.

Western military activity assumed Russia would be demoralised by the collapse of its system and would respond in the interests of its traditional allies, the Serbs.

Essentially, Kiss the Future is regarded as a time capsule of Europe's tragic recent history.