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
Demeter Bitenc
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Winnetou (1963)
Dobro ustimani mrtvaci (2005)
Ples v dezju (1961)
Bert Sotlar
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Moments of Decision (1955)
Mountain of Fear (1963)
Occupation in 26 Pictures (1978)
Goran Sultanovic
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
The Knife (1999)
The Gold Rimmed Glasses (1987)
Seven and a Half (2006)
Dragomir Stanojevic
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Unseen Wonder (1984)
Balkan Spy (1984)
The Black Bomber (1992)
Vladan Zivkovic
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Balkan Spy (1984)
The Black Bomber (1992)
Cross of Iron (1977)
Dusan Tadic
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Boško Buha (1978)
Petrijin venac (1980)
The Knife (1999)
Abdurrahman Shala
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Before the Rain (1994)
Kozara (1962)
The Battle of the River Neretva (1969)
Husein Čokić
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Winnetou (1963)
The Demolition Squad (1967)
Kozara (1962)
Hardy Krüger
German Empire
Best movies:
To Each His Hell (1977)
Barry Lyndon (1975)
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
Orson Welles
USA
Best movies:
Shogun (1980) (series) - narrator
Waterloo (1970)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Dušan Bulajić
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Variola Vera (1982)
Operacija Beograd (1968)
Fräulein Doktor (1969)
Anka Zupanc
Best movies:
The Demolition Squad (1967)
Praznik (1967)
The Battle of Sutjeska (1973)