Balkanness in Emir Kusturica's cinema

This study discusses the "Balkanness" concept and how it is used in world-renowned director Emir Kusturica's films. At this point, four films of Kusturica are examined. These films are historical respectively: Time of the Gypsies (1988) Underground (1995) - Life is a Miracle (2004) and On the Milky Road (2016) For analysis of films, the semiotic square method which is founded by A.J. Greimas, is used. Contradictions that are acquaired from the method is used to understand the notion of "Balkanness" and how it is positioned in Kusturica films. While examining the films, historical background and "Balkanness" it self is also being investigated and used. By doing this, one of the core point of analysis, which is East-West contradiction and how it has evolved during time is being examined. Lastly, the contradictions acquaired from this main contradiction East-West is being used to reveal the deep structure of the films.