Yugoslavia, 1967, 81’
directed by: Hajrudin Krvavac
written by: Vlastimir Radovanović, Hajrudin Krvavac
cast: Rade Marković, Velimir Bata Živojinović, Ljubiša Samardžić, Zaim Muzaferija, Jovan Janićijević
cinematography: Ognjen Milićević
edited by: Marija Fuks
production: Bosna film
Yugoslav Feature Film Festival in Pula 1967 – Special Prize to Jovan Janićijević for his role in the film, Diploma for Successful Adaptation of True Story (Hajrudin Krvavac), Audience Award for Best Film
Known as the founder of so-called "partisan western" genre, Yugoslav filmmaker Hajrudin "Šiba" Krvavac laid the foundations for his partisan-movie opus early in his career with The Demolition Squad. The plot takes place in former Yugoslavia in World War II. A partisan unit is under siege and the situation is seemingly hopeless. Their only chance is to destroy German aircraft that keep attacking them. However, breaking out and reaching the well-guarded airfield is a dangerous mission with slim chances for success. The suicidal mission falls to a group of eight demolition experts who decide to sacrifice themselves in order to save their fellow combatants. The dangerous task will put their characters to test. This classic was shot on the locations where real WWII operations took place.
Hajrudin Krvavac (1926. – 1992.) Born in 1926, died in 1992, this Yugoslav filmmaker is best known for the partisan movies he made in the 1960s and 1970s. As his storytelling owes a lot to comics and American action films and westerns, his style is sometimes compared with the one of Howard Hawks. His best-known films include: The Demolition Squad (1967), The Bridge (1969), Valter Defends Sarajevo (1972) and Battle Of Eagles (1979). Next to The Batlle Of Neretva, Valter Defendes Sarajevo is probably the best known partisan film made in Yugoslavia.
