Kiss the Future

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Kiss the Future

Released Feb 23, 2024

1h 43m

Documentary

War

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21 Reviews

98%

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100+ Ratings

KISS THE FUTURE, directed by Nenad Cicin-Sain, story by Bill Carter and Cicin-Sain, screenplay by Carter, based on his memoir: "Fools Rush In," is the story of defiance amid the 1990s siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. The film focuses on a vibrant underground community who used music and art to effect change and garner global attention by ultimately inspiring an American aid worker to reach out to the world's biggest band U2 to help raise awareness of the devastating conflict. KISS THE FUTURE follows the band's promise to perform a post-war concert that saw U2 play to over 45,000 local fans in a liberated city, a show that lives on as a joyous collective memory for the people of Sarajevo.

Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

In its brisk pace, well-deployed song choices and storytelling energy, “Kiss the Future” is skillful at avoiding seeming like an ode to U2 even though the band’s involvement fills over half the movie.

Feb 26, 2024

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Nicolas Rapold

New York Times

This is history told through emotions as much as through well-documented events, conveying both the resilience of Sarajevans and the power of pop music (without falling into too much celebrity self-regard).

Feb 22, 2024

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Steve Pond

TheWrap

"Kiss the Future” is a portrait of a city and a people who used culture to fight back; it’s also the story of a rock ‘n’ roll band exploring the limits of how its music can impact the real world.

Feb 24, 2023

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Ricardo De Querol

El Pais (Spain)

The documentary wisely doesn't overstate U2's involvement in the conflict but shines a light on the (late) entry of NATO in the face of global horror over the genocide. [Full review in Spanish]

Oct 4, 2024

Full Review

Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

A fascinating doc, even if the parts of the documentary about the Balkan wars are much more interesting than the U2 parts

Rated: 4/5

May 9, 2024

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Christie Cronan

Common Sense Media

Through interviews, storytelling, and U2 concert clips, director Nenad Cicin-Sain creates a dynamic narrative that inspires hope while also serving as a haunting reminder of how history tends to repeat itself.

Mar 11, 2024

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wendy j

Incredible documentary about one of the most horrible times in history. We must always look to the tragedy in Sarajevo to remember to have hope. U2 played an incredible role in getting information out to the world...they have never backed down for a righteous cause. So many people cared enough to keep on trying...this is a documentary everyone needs to see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/04/24

Full Review

John H

Good documentary with people who were actually there. My fiance thought it was a little hard to follow. Good story about U2.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/03/24

Full Review

USAPatriot FJBLGB

Get rid of Clinton and this is a 4.25 to 4.50 production .

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/01/24

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Noah J

Kiss the Future is a moving tribute to the power of art under siege. Centered on Sarajevo during the 1990s war, the documentary blends the grit of real-life survival with the hope of underground culture—culminating in U2’s post-war concert that’s more than just music; it’s catharsis. Director Nenad Cicin-Sain keeps the focus where it belongs: on the Sarajevans who used creativity as resistance. This isn’t a vanity project—it’s a testament to how culture, even in rubble, refuses to die. Haunting, inspiring, and deeply human. A quiet triumph.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

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Bryce A

One of the most compelling documentaries I’ve ever seen, I stubbornly became a Bono/U2 fan over the course of the film and was moved to tears multiple times, not just from sadness but from the fragility and optimism of humanity. A must watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/30/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Absolute must see! Watched 5x just to really encapsulate the whole experience. 10/10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/24

Full Review

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Nenad Cicin-Sain

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Bill S. Carter

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Synopsis

KISS THE FUTURE, directed by Nenad Cicin-Sain, story by Bill Carter and Cicin-Sain, screenplay by Carter, based on his memoir: "Fools Rush In," is the story of defiance amid the 1990s siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. The film focuses on a vibrant underground community who used music and art to effect change and garner global attention by ultimately inspiring an American aid worker to reach out to the world's biggest band U2 to help raise awareness of the devastating conflict. KISS THE FUTURE follows the band's promise to perform a post-war concert that saw U2 play to over 45,000 local fans in a liberated city, a show that lives on as a joyous collective memory for the people of Sarajevo.

Director: Nenad Cicin-Sain
Producer: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Sarah Anthony, Ned O'Hanlon
Screenwriter: Bill S. Carter
Distributor: Fifth Season
Production Co: Fifth Season, Artists Equity
Genre: Documentary, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 23, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2024
Runtime: 1h 43m

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