Valter brani Sarajevo

The movie was amazing. The characters were amazing and memorable. The story was very interesting. It made me shiver, smile and frown every time I watched it. There were so many good and memorable quotes. The battle between the good and the bad was really interesting and fun. You never know who's going to betray who and what tricks will they use to outsmart the opposition. The movie is very rewatchable, some individuals might have to watch it a few times to really understand the story. The sound design is phenomenal. Simply amazing for a film that was released in 1972. I highly recommend this old gem! I'd say it's even better than some films released in these past years.

The lyrics of U2's 1997 hit 'Discotheque' apply perfectly to "Valter brani Sarajevo" and sum up my feelings about the movie:

'......you know you're chewing bubble-gum,*** you know what that is, but you still want some,*** you just can't get enough of that lovie-dovie stuff........'

On one hand, this is another one of the ridiculous state-sponsored war bonanzas taking up a large part of 1960s and '70s Yugoslav cinematography - most of them high on propaganda, cheap stereotypes and tear jerk moments seen coming from a mile away, designed to glorify the struggle of 'Yugoslav peoples' against German occupiers & domestic traitors. However, on the other, it is also a pretty well made 'lemonade with lotsa sugar' action flick with a decent plot and good characters that pull the viewer right in and don't let go.

It, of course, stars Bata Zivojinovic and Ljubisa Samardzic in yet another role that calls for 'Yugoslavia's top duo' to outsmart, outwit and eliminate as many Germans as humanly possible.

Supposedly, "Valter brani Sarajevo" was a hit of huge proportions in China where to this day our boy Bata is an enormous star. Well, I guess billion Chinese can't be wrong.

Valter was one of, if not the, most admired movie heroes in China.

When it was in the theater, I was a 8 years old boy, after the movie, this character is absolutely rooted in my heart.

He is the hero for almost one generation of Chinese.

Anyway, this movie was shown in 1980, though produced in 1972.

I am truly happy to know Valter is still alive.

God bless you, Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic .

Wish you could visit China and our city one day. I am planning to organize a fan club here in Dalian city, we need some movie posters of this Valter movie.

Please tell us where to buy it.

Thanks.

the action is non-stop, the plots are perfect. i cannot found any ww2 movie better than this one. the first time i watched this movie in 1976 when i was 6 years old back in china. they keep showing it from 1976-1979. i have never been bored even though i watched it over and over again. i used to memerize all the senarios and scripts. i still want to watch again now i am 30 years old. can anybody help me to get a copy?

This movie is a typical Partizan "western" with "black-and-white" characters. The movie is losely inspired by actual events from WW II but its content could not be called historically true.

What is the most interesting thing about this movie is that it was immensely popular in the People Republic of China. I talked to quite a few Chinese people born in sixties, and literally everybody went with school to see the movie. I think that "Valter brani Sarajevo" could easily be the most popular foreign movie in China.

During NATO action in Serbia, when USA hit the Chinese embassy, the actor who played Valter, Bata Zivoinovic, visited wounded Chinese people in hospital, and they cherished his appearance there...