In 1998 Dragojević gave a bleak and critical portrayal of life in Slobodan Milošević's Serbia in "Rane", which was another critical success for the young director. Loosely based on a true story, its plot tells a tale of two teen criminals growing up together before turning on each other. Released in May 1998 and, like most local productions, funded in large part by state institutions such as the state-run broadcaster RTS, the film elicited a stern response from the government elements that did not appreciate the director's brutal portrayal of Milošević's Serbia. Though they didn't ban the movie outright, they severely impacted its promotional cycle by refusing to run the film's ads in the state-run print and electronic media outlets. During the film's promotion on the festival circuit in North America, Dragojević expressed concern that he wouldn't be allowed to continue making films in Serbia under Milošević.