Directed by:
Stipe DelicScreenplay:
Ugo PirroCinematography:
Tomislav PinterComposer:
Mikis TheodorakisCast:
Richard Burton, Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic, Irene Papas, Milena Dravic, Rade Markovic, Neda Arneric, Anton Diffring, Relja Bašić, Boro Begovic, Janez Vrhovec (more)Plots(1)
Following Kozara (1962) and Bitka na Neretvi (1969), Sutjeska was the last of the three Yugoslavian official (i.e. state-commissioned & strictly supervised) partisan super-productions, and despite the fact that it never quite reached the popularity (or notoriety) of the first ones, it remains – in genre terms – by far the leanest and meanest example of a spectacular partisan narrative. The plot is a by-the-numbers rehash of the previous two epics. Once again, there is a group of vastly outnumbered, outgunned, and starved partisans, again led directly by Marshal Tito. Again, they are hiding across the mountainous wilds of occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina, attempting to break out of the Axis siege. Again, they do not win, but instead suffer incredible losses running into the thousands, while managing to preserve their headquarters and finally escape. What separates Sutjeska from the previous two films is the prevailing, suffocating atmosphere of gloom and doom. While the surviving partisans in Kozara and Bitka na Neretvi merrily march into future victories while singing at the end of each film, they silently drag their feet into an uncertain future here, devastated by their losses. Also of note is the brilliant widescreen cinematography by the finest Yugoslavian cinematographer Tomislav Pinter, the ominous score by Mikis Theodorakis, and the memorable appearance of Richard Burton as Tito. (Viennale)
(more)Cast
Richard Burton
UK
Best movies:
The Longest Day (1962)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
The Medusa Touch (1978)
Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Life Is Beautiful (1985)
Unseen Wonder (1984)
Pretty Village, Pretty Flame (1996)
Irene Papas
Greece
Best movies:
Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
Z (1969)
Alexis Zorbas (1964)
Milena Dravic
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Cabaret Balkan (1998)
The Girl (1965)
Man Is Not a Bird (1965)
Rade Markovic
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Petrijin venac (1980)
The Gold Rimmed Glasses (1987)
The Peach Thief (1964)
Neda Arneric
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Who's Singin' Over There? (1980)
Andjeo čuvar (1987)
The Elusive Summer of '68 (1984)
Anton Diffring
German Empire
Best movies:
Where Eagles Dare (1968)
The Great Manhunt (1950)
Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
Relja Bašić
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Most (1969)
War and Remembrance (1988) (series)
The Fifth Day of Peace (1970)
Boro Begovic
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Unseen Wonder (1984)
The Dog Who Loved Trains (1977)
The Beauty of Vice (1986)
Janez Vrhovec
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
I Even Met Happy Gypsies (1967)
Banović Strahinja (1981)
When I Am Dead and Pale (1967)
Michael Cramer
German Empire
Best movies:
Miss Sloane (2016)
Fireworks (1954)
U-47 Lt. Commander Prien (1958)
Ljuba Tadic
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Time of Miracles (1989)
Cabaret Balkan (1998)
Bloody Fairytale (1969)
Günter Meisner
German Empire
Best movies:
The Tin Drum (1979)
The Bridge at Remagen (1969)
Ace of Aces (1982)
Branko Špoljar
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Treasure of Silver Lake (1962)
Apache Gold (1963)
Kozara (1962)
Slobodan Dimitrijević
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Treasure of Silver Lake (1962)
Winnetou: The Last Shot (1965)
Walter Defends Sarajevo (1972)
Ilija Ivezic
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Treasure of Silver Lake (1962)
Apache Gold (1963)
Winnetou: The Last Shot (1965)
Boris Dvornik
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Man Is Not a Bird (1965)
Occupation in 26 Pictures (1978)
Most (1969)
Mirko Boman
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Treasure of Silver Lake (1962)
Winnetou: The Red Gentleman (1964)
Banović Strahinja (1981)
Nikola-Kole Angelovski
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Three (1965)
Banović Strahinja (1981)
U gori raste zelen bor (1971)
Brook Williams
UK
Best movies:
The Medusa Touch (1978)
Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
Where Eagles Dare (1968)