Goran Paskaljević’s film Someone Else’s America follows an immigrant

Goran Paskaljević’s 1995 film Someone Else’s America, or Tuđa Amerika, is a 96-minute drama that captures the immigrant experience through the lens of a Montenegrin laborer. The narrative follows Bayo, an undocumented immigrant living in Brooklyn, who works in a bar owned by a Spanish man named Alonso. Alonso, who cares for his blind mother, provides Bayo with a place to sleep in exchange for cleaning services. The plot centers on the arrival of Bayo’s family, who undertake a perilous journey from Montenegro to join him in the United States.

Production and Creative Team

Although the film depicts life in Brooklyn, the setting was not filmed on location. Instead, the production reconstructed Brooklyn within a studio in Hamburg. The screenplay was written by Gordan Mihić, known for his previous work on Emir Kusturica’s Time of the Gypsies. The film features cinematography by Yorgos Arvanitis, editing by William Diver, and an original score by Andrew Dickson. The cast includes Miki Manojlović as Bayo, Tom Conti as Alonso, Maria Casarès as Alonso’s mother, Zorka Manojlović as Bayo’s mother, Sergej Trifunović as Lukas, and José Ramón Rosario as Panchito.

Festival Recognition and Distribution

The film garnered significant attention during its 1995 festival run. It was presented in the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, where it earned the audience award. Additionally, the production secured the Golden Spike at the Valladolid International Film Festival later that same year.

Following its festival success, the film saw varied release dates internationally. In France, the movie was released on December 20, 1995, under the title L’Amérique des autres. United States audiences saw the film receive a limited theatrical release in May 1996.