Kozara - Montanha Heróica

I saw this a long time ago on tv and it made a lasting impact on me.Its a gripping story of the heroism of Yugoslav partisans fighting outnumbered against Nazis.Many awesome scenes,high on emotions and a definite tear jerker.This is a work to be admired.

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.

I have first seen this film about 30 years ago, in the heyday of communism in Yugoslavia, when it was, along with "Neretva" and "Sutjeska" considered an absolute classic and "obligatory viewing" for every a "well meaning" citizen.

Seeing it again, after so many years, I can see why. It is full of typical communist propaganda of that era, almost enticing hatred against "the enemy", glorifying the common man and its inner strength etc. Etc. All the common places of the socialist realism. Yet, strangely, on some other level, it still works. It is a very graphic depiction of what a war really is, it shows in an unapologetic way all its traumas and sufferings and also how it brings the best and the worst in different people. I also liked low brow, peasant language, yet so deep and full of wisdom.

Some scenes are still extraordinary powerful.

It might have once been a banner of communist establishment, however, this movie is still definitely worth a look!