Breaking Borders Season 1 Episode 4 Tears and Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo

In the fourth episode of Breaking Borders season 1, entitled "Tears and Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo," the show's team journeys to Bosnia and Herzegovina to explore the aftermath of the Bosnian War and to discover how the country is healing and rebuilding itself more than two decades later.

The episode begins in Sarajevo, the country's capital, where the team meets with Damir Arsenijevic, a local man who guides them through the city and shares his personal experiences during the war. He tells the team about his time as a student and how his life was forever changed when the city came under siege for nearly four years, during which time he and his fellow citizens were cut off from the outside world, had limited access to food and water, and were constantly in danger of snipers and other threats.

Despite the traumatic memories that linger for many Sarajevans, the team also discovers a profound sense of hope and resilience in the city. They attend a performance by a local choir called "Mostar Sevdah Reunion," who fuse together traditional folk music with modern influences to create a unique and powerful sound. The choir's members also discuss their own experiences during the war and how music became a way to soothe their souls and bring people together in solidarity.

One of the most moving moments of the episode occurs when the team visits the Tunnel of Hope, a subterranean passageway that was dug by local residents during the war to connect the city's two zones. The 800-meter-long tunnel kept Sarajevo's citizens alive by providing a lifeline for food, water, and medical supplies, as well as a means of escape. The team walks through the narrow, low-ceilinged tunnel and hears stories from those who used it during the war, including one man who smuggled his family and neighbors through it under cover of night.

Throughout the episode, the team also delves into the ongoing process of post-conflict reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They meet with Fadila Memisevic, a survivor of the Srebrenica massacre in which more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces. Memisevic shares her story of survival and loss and her work as an advocate for peace and justice.

The team also visits Prijedor, a city in the northwestern part of the country where some of the worst atrocities of the war took place. They meet with activists and NGO workers who are striving to address the lingering trauma and divisions in the community by promoting truth, justice, and reconciliation. Despite the challenges, the team witnesses the powerful resilience and determination of the human spirit to heal and rebuild in the wake of conflict and devastation.

Overall, "Tears and Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo" is a poignant and thought-provoking episode that invites viewers to bear witness to the effects of war and conflict on individuals, communities, and entire nations. Through the lens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the episode illuminates themes of trauma, resilience, hope, and the power of human connections to overcome even the most devastating of circumstances.