This film was based on the best selling book written by Margaret Mazzantini, which tells a tale about a single mother who brings her 16-year-old son to Sarajevo, where his father died during the 1992-1995 war.

Oscar-winning Spanish actress Penelope Cruz arrived on Wednesday to Bosnia to shoot her new movie, a drama about the 1990s war in the Balkan country, local media reported.

Cruz plays the main role in "Venuto al Mondo" (Into the World), a film directed by Italian Sergio Castellitto, the Dnevni Avaz daily reported on its online edition.

The shooting was to start on Monday, the daily said adding that locations were being kept secret.

Cruz, 37, has already worked with Castellitto in the 2004 drama "Non ti Muovere" (Don't Move), also based on a novel by Mazzantini.

Last year Angelina Jolie, another Oscar-winning actress sparked controversy when she wanted to film scenes from her directorial debut "The Land of Blood and Honey" also about the bloody Bosnian war.

Local media reported the film would show a Muslim rape victim falling in love with her Serb attacker, which prompted outrage from rape victims organisations. Jolie denied the script included such a love story and asked for victims organisations to reserve judgement until they have seen the film.

The filming will start Sept. 12 and last for 11 days.