Kozara (1962)

A struggle of the Yugoslav Partisans against the Nazis.

Director:

Veljko Bulajic

Writers:

Stevan Bulajic, Veljko Bulajic

Stars:

Bert Sotlar, Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic, Milena Dravic

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bert Sotlar	...	komandir Vuksa
Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic	...	Sorga (as Bata Zivojinovic)
Milena Dravic	...	Milja
Olivera Markovic	...	Andja
Dragomir Felba	...	Obrad
Ljubisa Samardzic	...	Mitar
Mihajlo Kostic-Pljaka	...	Ahmet (as Mihajlo Kostic)
Milan Milosevic	...	Ivica
Abdurrahman Shala	...	Jakov (as Abdurahman Salja)
Davor Antolic	...	Joja
Tana Mascarelli	...	Marinkova majka (as Tana Maskareli)
Tamara Miletic	...	Zlata
Milorad Majic	...	Djed
Adam Vedernjak	...	Marinko
Branko Lustig	...	U oci ranjeni Njemac

Storyline

Battle on Kozara known as the 'third offensive' is the hardest and most tragic battle led by the Yugoslav Partisans in World War II. In June of 1942 Germans and their collaborators decide to get rid of partisans and their stronghold in the woods of Mount Kozara in Northern Bosnia. They encircle the mountain and begin the mop up operation. Out gunned and outnumbered the partisans must not only take care of themselves but try to protect thousands of refugees too.

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Plot Keywords:

blind soldier | genocide of serbs in the independent state of croatia | partisan | battle | german | 

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Taglines:

Kozaracko kolo

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Slavenka Drakulic mentions this film in her international best-selling book, "Cafe Europa."

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Connections

Featured in Robna kuca: Partizanski film I (2009)

User Reviews

Kozara communist propaganda and historical movie.

Kozara is one of the best war movies and dramas that was shot while the Communist Party was ruling what used to be called Tito's Yugoslavia.

An interesting fact about Kozara is that its unit production manager, was at that time young, Branko Lustig, also in movie credits it is possible to find names of many other, later, important names in Yugoslav cinematography.

Not many viewers know, but the movie is inspired by true events. You can check Wikipedia, Battle of Kozara. I had a chance, since I live at the foot of mountain Kozara, to talk to participants who fought on both sides during the battle. It was back in 1980ties. And they all agreed that the movie is historically correct. Many scenes from the movie were based on the real documentary roles of films that were shot by the Axis cameramen for the purposes of WWII propaganda movies, not to mention hundreds of documents that were captured from the Axis archives and testimonies of survivors. Still the movie is a dramatization and contains certain melodramatic moments that had only one purpose - to glorify communist ideology. I remember how when I was a kid, me and my friends used to laugh and ridicule those scenes. On the other hand some of the scenes that show suffering of people are masterfully directed and acted and will move you unless they make you cry.

Both German and Yugoslav war veterans were present at the opening of Kozara Memorial and monument back in early 1970ties.

If you are into WWII movies that are based on real battles and events this movies is a must see.

Details

Country:

Yugoslavia

Language:

Serbo-Croatian

Release Date:

25 July 1962 (Yugoslavia)

Also Known As:

Diables Rouges Face Aux SS

Filming Locations:

Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bosna Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1