''Battle of Sutjeska'' (also known as ''The Fifth Offensive'') is a 1973 Yugoslav

partisan film Partisan film ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, partizanski film, партизански филм, separator=" / ") is the name for a subgenre of war films made in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Yugoslavia during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. In the broade ...

directed by

Stipe Delić Stipe Delić (23 June 1925 – 1 April 1999) was a Croatian film director. His 1973 film '' The Battle of Sutjeska'' was entered into the 8th Moscow International Film Festival The 8th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 10 t ...

. It tells the story of the famous

Battle of Sutjeska Case Black (), also known as the Fifth Enemy Offensive ( sh-Latn, Peta neprijateljska ofanziva) in Yugoslav historiography and often identified with its final phase, the Battle of the Sutjeska ( sh-Latn, Bitka na Sutjesci ) was a joint attack ...

, the greatest engagement of the Yugoslav Partisan War. The film is one of the most expensive ever made in Yugoslavia. It was selected as the Yugoslav entry for the

Best Foreign Language Film The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Bes ...

at the

46th Academy Awards The 46th Academy Awards were presented on Tuesday, April 2, 1974, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. The ceremonies were presided over by Burt Reynolds, Diana Ross, John Huston, and David Niven. ''The Sting'' won 7 a ...

, but was not accepted as a nominee.Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences It was also entered into the

8th Moscow International Film Festival The 8th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 10 to 23 July 1973. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Soviet film '' That Sweet Word: Liberty!'' directed by Vytautas Žalakevičius and the Bulgarian film '' Affection'' directed by ...

where it won a Special Prize.

Plot

German-occupied

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

, 1943; under the faithful leadership of

Marshal Tito Josip Broz ( sh-Cyrl, Јосип Броз, ; 7 May 1892 – 4 May 1980), commonly known as Tito ( ; , ), was a Yugoslav communist revolutionary and politician who served in various positions of national leadership from 1943 until his death ...

, the

Yugoslav Partisans The Yugoslav Partisans,Serbo-Croatian, Macedonian language, Macedonian, and Slovene language, Slovene: , officially the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia sh-Latn-Cyrl, Narodnooslobodilačka vojska i partizanski odr ...

have, for a number of years, put up a staunch fight against the occupying

Axis powers The Axis powers, originally called the Rome–Berlin Axis and also Rome–Berlin–Tokyo Axis, was the military coalition which initiated World War II and fought against the Allies of World War II, Allies. Its principal members were Nazi Ge ...

. Despite being out-gunned, outmaneuvered and vastly outnumbered, they managed to recuperate in a harsh mountainous region called

Durmitor Durmitor ( Montenegrin: Дурмитор, or ) is a massif located in northwestern Montenegro. It is part of the Dinaric Alps. Its highest peak, Bobotov Kuk, reaches a height of . The massif is limited by the Tara River Canyon on the north, th ...

in northern

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

. However, their respite is short-lived as the combined foreign and domestic Axis powers begin an encirclement offensive, outnumbering them 6:1. The Partisans have no choice but to fight their way out of the encirclement, then head towards eastern Bosnia. They finally clash with the Axis on the plains of Sutjeska in south-eastern Bosnia. Various people are caught up in the fighting, such as a

Dalmatia Dalmatia (; ; ) is a historical region located in modern-day Croatia and Montenegro, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Through time it formed part of several historical states, most notably the Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Croatia (925 ...

n who lost all of his children during the war. As the fighting intensifies, the story and the scenes are drawn more and more into the colossal battle as both sides are forced into a conflict that can only be described as a living hell. Battle scenes are interlaced with the personal agonies and fates of the main characters, from supreme commanders to ordinary soldiers. The offensive ends in failure for the Axis, but the Partisans are in no mood to celebrate — they have suffered devastating losses. Still, on they march.

Cast

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s and gave a memor ...

Josip Broz Tito Josip Broz ( sh-Cyrl, Јосип Броз, ; 7 May 1892 – 4 May 1980), commonly known as Tito ( ; , ), was a Yugoslavia, Yugoslav communist revolutionary and politician who served in various positions of national leadership from 1943 unti ...

Ljuba Tadić Ljubomir "Ljuba" Tadić ( sr-cyr, Љубомир Љуба Тадић; 31 May 1929 – 28 October 2005) was a Yugoslav actor who enjoyed a reputation as one of the greatest names in the history of former Yugoslav cinema. Biography He made his scr ...

Sava Kovačević Sava Kovačević ( sr-cyrl, Сава Ковачевић; 25 January 1905 – 13 June 1943) was a Yugoslav Partisan divisional commander during World War II, and one of the heroes of the communist Partisan movement. Early life Kovačević was ...

Bata Živojinović Velimir "Bata" Živojinović ( sr-Cyrl, Велимир "Бата" Живојиновић; 5 June 1933 – 22 May 2016) was a Yugoslav and Serbian actor and politician. He appeared in more than 340 films and TV series, and is regarded as one of ...

as Nikola *

Miroljub Lešo Miroljub Lešo (27 July 1946 – 5 March 2019) was a Yugoslav and Serbian actor. He appeared in more than ninety films since 1968. Lešo played the role of ''Slavko'' in the television series '' Otpisani''. He was born and died in Belgrade ...

as Boro *

Irene Papas Irene Papas or Irene Pappas (, ; born Eirini Lelekou (); 3 September 1929 – 14 September 2022) was a Greek actress and singer who starred in over 70 films in a career spanning more than 50 years. She gained international recognition through ...

as Boro's Mother *

Milena Dravić Milena Dravić ( sr-Cyrl, Милена Дравић, ; 5 October 1940 – 14 October 2018) was a Yugoslav and Serbian film, television and theatre actress. She played the mother of Brad Pitt in the 1988 film '' The Dark Side of the Sun''. Biograp ...

as Vera *

Bert Sotlar Bert Sotlar (4 February 1921 – 10 June 1992) was a Yugoslav film actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional med ...

as Barba *

Boris Dvornik Boris Dvornik (; 16 April 1939 – 24 March 2008) was a Croatian actor. Biography Born in Split to the family of a carpenter, Dvornik discovered acting talent at an early age, while performing in children's plays. After studying to become an el ...

as Ivan *

Rade Marković Radomir "Rade" Marković ( sr-Cyrl, Радомир Раде Марковић; 14 October 1921 – 10 September 2010) was a Serbian actor. He performed in more than ninety films. He was married to actress Olivera Marković from 1945 until they di ...

as Radoš *

Ljubiša Samardžić Ljubiša Samardžić ( sr-cyr, Љубиша Самарџић; 19 November 1936 – 8 September 2017), nicknamed Smoki, was a Serbian actor and director, best known as Šurda in the ''Vruć vetar'' TV series, and Inspector Boško Simić in the com ...

as Stanojlo * Milan Puzić as Member of the Partisan Headquarters *

Kole Angelovski Nikola "Kole" Angelovski (born 14 March 1943) is a Macedonian actor. He appeared in more than fifty films since 1962. Selected filmography External links * 1943 births Living people Macedonian male film actors Male actors from Skopje ...

as Stanojlo's Friend *

Stole Aranđelović Stojan "Stole" Aranđelović (12 June 1930 – 8 April 1993) was a Serbian film actor. He appeared in 120 films between 1955 and 1993. He was born and died in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Selected filmography * ''Crveni cvet'' (1950) - Oficir * ...

as The Priest *

Relja Bašić Relja Bašić (14 February 1930 – 7 April 2017) was a Croatian actor. With a career that lasted more than half a century, he is considered one of the most prolific performers of that country. Biography Bašić was born on 14 February 1930 i ...

as Capt. Stewart *

Branko Špoljar Branko Špoljar (5 January 1914 - 27 October 1985) was a Yugoslav actor. He appeared in more than thirty films from 1944 to 1982. Filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Spoljar, Branko 1914 births 1985 deaths Yugoslav ...

as Member of the General Staff *

Petar Banićević Petar Banićević ( sr-Cyrl, Петар Банићевић; 8 February 1930 – 4 September 2006) was a Serbian actor. The "Petar Banićević" award is given annually by the National Theatre in Belgrade to a young actor under 40 years of age who ...

as Capt.

William Deakin Sir Frederick William Dampier Deakin DSO (3 July 1913 – 22 January 2005) also known as F. W. Deakin, was a British historian, World War II veteran, literary assistant to Winston Churchill and the first warden of St Antony's College, Oxfor ...

Günter Meisner Günter Meisner (18 April 1926 – 5 December 1994) was a German character actor. He is remembered for his several cinematic portrayals of Adolf Hitler and for his role as Arthur Slugworth / Mr. Wilkinson in '' Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Fact ...

as Gen.

Rudolf Lüters Rudolf Lüters (May 10, 1883 – December 24, 1945) was a German general who served in the Wehrmacht, during World War II. Biography He joined the Imperial German Army on November 2, 1902 as Fahnenjunker and participated in World War I where ...

Anton Diffring Anton Diffring (born Alfred Pollack; 20 October 1916 – 19 May 1989) was a German actor. He had an extensive film and television career in the United Kingdom from the 1940s to the 1980s, latterly appearing in international films. Primarily a c ...

as Gen.

Alexander Löhr Alexander Löhr (20 May 1885 – 26 February 1947) was an Austrian Air Force (1927–1938), Austrian Air Force commander during the 1930s and, after the Anschluss, annexation of Austria, he was a Luftwaffe commander. Löhr served in the Luftwaff ...

* Michael Cramer as Col. Wagner *

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Battle of Sutjeska, The 1973 films Films set in 1943 Partisan films World War II films based on actual events Films set in Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbo-Croatian-language films 1970s English-language films English-language Yugoslav films Films directed by Stipe Delić Films with screenplays by Ugo Pirro Films scored by Mikis Theodorakis Films with screenplays by Wolf Mankowitz Films about Josip Broz Tito 1973 war films English-language war films

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links