Maja Iskra’s novel «Uppercut» tells the story of a neighborhood in a specific time: the Belgrade district of Dorćol in the nineties. As the war rages between Yugoslavia’s constituent republics, a war between genders reigns in Dorćol. Even among children. It’s no surprise when mothers have to flee from their drunken husbands and teachers abuse their students in this neighborhood.
In Dorćol, even love on the schoolyard closely resembles violence: when a boy wants to show affection to his crush, he simply slaps her. This behavior prompts girls to learn boxing or judo at a young age, as showcased in Iskra’s autobiographical novel.
The protagonist, since elementary school, fights off any boy who dares to challenge her; the uppercut becomes her signature move. For her, it’s a «spiritual punch» directed both at her opponent and herself.
The novel not only portrays the brutality in Dorćol’s streets but also highlights loyalty and comradeship among girls. It also explores the refuge spots for these girls, like the ruins of a concrete factory where boundaries are tested and freedom can be briefly felt.
Iskra’s novel is narrated in a fragmented style, with more than twenty short chapters. The adult narrator, living in Vienna, often has flashbacks to her childhood while navigating potential romantic encounters. Her nineties’ life is described as a dual frontline battle: the constant danger outside and the inexplicable rage of her chain-smoking alcoholic father at home.
The novel has been criticized for its simplistic and repetitive comparisons and namedropping of several authors. Despite this, Iskra has managed to create a literary monument to the impactful neighborhood of Dorćol, both in the past and present.
Fortunately, with «Uppercut,» she has now commemorated it in literature.
