Angline Jolie
Angeline Jolie makes her directorial debut with the movie, "In the Land of Blood and Honey." The movie has faced some criticism because of its harrowing plot line of war and rape. Reuters

Angelina Jolie makes her directorial debut in December with an extremely powerful and complex film, In the Land of Blood and Honey.

Jolie's premiere as a director includes a storyline of war, rape, and love.

The film is set against the backdrop of the Bosnian War. It focuses on the relationship between a Muslim woman, played by Zana Marjanovic, and her Serbian captor, Goran Kostic.

It is ultimately a love story but interwoven in are the threads of the captive's rape, the opposing sides of the conflict, and questions of trust.

Jolie was unsure what to name the film. She knew that because of the complex plot line, the choice would be a difficult one.

It's a heavy film, she said. You want to find that title that really helps the audience know what they're walking into.

The film comes out in late December and, even with Jolie's Hollywood clout, she is unsure how audiences will respond to the movie.

It is obviously not a story for everyone, since the themes are certainly troubling. But Jolie has insisted that, underneath the surface, there is meaning there for everyone, such as how human relationships and behavior are deeply affected by living inside a war.

In the Land of Blood and Honey sparked controversy back in October 2010 when the head of a group of female war victims condemned the film. The woman said that it was objectionable because it is about a woman falling in love with her enemy, reports Reuters.

Jolie insisted that people wait until the film was complete to pass judgment.

There are many twists in the plot that address the sensitive nature of the relationship between the main characters and that will be revealed once the film is released, the Oscar-winning actress said.

This topic seems quite fitting for Jolie. The actress is known as much for her humanitarian work as she is for her beauty.

She is constantly looking to shed light on international issues facing global citizens. She continually visits refugee camps, she has her own charities, and she is a proponent of adoption.

Jolie recently visited Libya to assist refugees in the war torn country and to show solidarity for the rebel resistance.