Walter Defends Sarajevo
| Valter brani Sarajevo | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Hajrudin Krvavac |
| Written by | Đorđe Lebović (main writer) Hajrudin Krvavac Savo Pređo |
| Produced by | Petar Sobajić |
| Starring | Bata Živojinović Ljubiša Samardžić Rade Marković |
| Cinematography | Miroljub Dikosavljević |
| Edited by | Jelena Bjenjaš |
| Music by | Bojan Adamič |
Production company | Bosna Film |
Release date |
|
Running time | 133 minutes |
| Country | Yugoslavia |
| Languages | Serbo-Croatian German |
Walter Defends Sarajevo (
Plot
In late 1944, as the end of
Ending
At the end of the movie, von Dietrich muses that he has finally realised why he never managed to defeat his nemesis Walter; standing on a hill he points at Sarajevo below and remarks in German: Sehen Sie diese Stadt? Das ist Walter! ("You see that city? That's Walter!") This was intended to send a message of unity consistent with the official politics of the multi-ethnic state of Yugoslavia.
Cast
- Bata Živojinović as Pilot (Walter)
- Ljubiša Samardžić as Zis
- Rade Marković as Sead Kapetanović
- Slobodan Dimitrijević as Suri
- Neda Spasojević as Mirna
- Dragomir Gidra Bojanićas Kondor
- Pavle Vuisić as train dispatcher
- Faruk Begolli as Branko
- Stevo Žigon as Dr Mišković
- Jovan Janićijevićas Josic
- Relja Bašić as Obersturmführer
- Hannjo Hasse as Col. von Dietrich
- Rolf Römer as SS-Hauptsturmführer Bischoff
- Fred Delmare as Sgt. Edele (credited as Axel Delmare)
- Herbert Köfer as German general
- Wilhelm Koch-Hooge as Lieutenant Colonel Hagen
- Helmut Schreiber as Lieutenant Colonel Weiland
- Emir Kusturica as a young man
Production
Although not aiming to reflect history, the film's leading character was named after the partisan leader
The film marked the beginning of Emir Kusturica's career in cinema. Sixteen years of age at the time, it was his first appearance on film in a small role playing a young communist activist.[2]
Release
The film premiered in Sarajevo on Wednesday, 12 April 1972 in front of 5,000 spectators at the recently built
Reception
Walter Defends Sarajevo received a favorable response from the Yugoslav audience, especially in Sarajevo itself.[4]
The film was distributed in sixty countries,
Legacy
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The theme of
In China, children and streets were named after characters from the film, and a beer brand called 'Walter' was marketed with
The names of numerous hospitality venues throughout the Balkans (mostly in Bosnia and Serbia) have been inspired by the film.[10]
A museum in Sarajevo dedicated to the film was also opened in April 2019.[11]
References
- ^ Levi 2007, p. 64–66.
- ^ a b Gocić 2001, p. 16.
- ^ Zlatar, Pero (April 1972). "Danas je petak u redakciji Pere Zlatara". Studio. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ a b Donia 2006, p. 238.
- ^ a b Iordanova 2006, p. 115.
- ^ a b Levi 2007, p. 64–64.
- ^ Hui, Mary (13 April 2019). "China loves this obscure 1972 Yugoslavian movie—and Sarajevo is cashing in". Quartz. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- .
- ^ Knezevic, Gordana (29 August 2018). "'Walter' Defended Sarajevo, Now He's Bringing Tourists". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ "Nekoliko osoba povrijeđeno u tuči ispred sarajevskog puba Walter". Klix.ba. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Take a Look inside the newly opened "Valter defends Sarajevo" Museum". Sarajevo Times. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-1903364147.
- Donia, Robert J. (2006). Sarajevo: A Biography. ISBN 978-0472115570.
- Levi, Pavle (2007). Disintegration in Frames: Aesthetics and Ideology in the Yugoslav and Post-Yugoslav Cinema. ISBN 978-0-8047-5368-5.
- ISBN 978-1904764816.
External links
- Valter Brani Sarajevo at IMDb
