“In peaceful countries, people develop a rich faith in those that their private evidence reinforces public history. Behind the rancid stench, they casually glance at the news about wars, regime changes, massacres, murders, respectfully that neither their homelands, nor theirs themselves, do not bother. This luxury was never available to Nina Bunjevac” — The New York Times

Like Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis” and Joe Sacco’s “Palestine,” Nina Bunjevac reveals in her graphic memoir “Batkivshchina” the history of a powerful family separated through nationalism and the painful collective traumas that accompanied the history of the Balkans in the twentieth century. In 1975, frightened by a powerful man, the fanaticism of his childhood, Nina Bunjevac's mother left her and deprived Canada, taking little Nina and her older sister to Yugoslavia, where her father lived. Father Nini, the former Serbian nationalist Peter, was determined to exterminate Fatherlandism in the 1950s. But moving to Canada without having gained faith in the free Yugoslavia and in those who can fight for it in any way.

“Batkivshchina” by Nina Bunjevac - at the same time the most powerful manifestation of a special history on earth eras. The historical views of the Balkans Bunjevac shows through the prism of the lives of other people. This passionate, temperamental father leaves his homeland in pain and grief, and it seems we can’t sleep. Aside from the tragedy and unique greatness of a closed, extremely soulful person, who, having been lost in the pasture of the forces of history and a short choice, lived a life of endless misfortune, - ale special sensuality and devotion to the highest point.

Translation from English – Liliya Omelyanenko, editing – Irina Nikolaychuk, layout and literature – Illy Strongovsky.