Review by sobot

First of all, this is an adaptation of Branko Ćopić's novel of the same title. It is very faithful to the book, although the scope of problems covered in the book is not so wide, due to (then) still actual communist government of Yugoslavia.

More than anything else, this is a story about what power does to men. The main character rules the people by fear, and little by little he starts to feel that he has the right to judge and punish everyone as he pleases.

It is also a story about civil war that existed within the big war, between partisans and chetniks, but the authors decide not to take sides and position themselves only as observers. The accent is on partisan side, their beliefs and illusions, and conflicts with rustic people.

This is also one of the last movies made with joint forces from Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia. This is easily seen by the cast, led by Mustafa Nadarević and Branislav Lečić, and of course great Fabijan Šovagović.

I recommend the movie (as well as another Čengić's work, "Mali vojnici") for its realistic approach that makes us think, and remember the verse from an Azra song: "Tko ne pamti, iznova preživljava" ("Those who forget must live through it again").