Premiere of the film “Balkan War”

The premiere of the film “Balkan War”, the latest work by director Stojan Stojčić, will be held on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, at the Sava Centre (Blue Hall). The Belgrade premiere, attended by the film crew and many guests from public life, is scheduled for 9 p.m., with a preview screening at 6 p.m.

The sequel to a cult saga

The film “Balkan War” follows historical events from 1900 to the beginning of the First World War, depicting a period in the Balkans filled with uprisings and wartime turmoil. It is the sequel to the cult saga “Impure Blood”, which Stojan Stojčić presented to audiences back in 1996, with the leading roles played by Rade Šerbedžija, Maja Stojanović and the singer Svetlana Veličković.

In the continuation of this film story, shot almost three decades later, audiences will for the first time have the opportunity to see certain scenes that were not shown in “Impure Blood”.

– Bora Stanković wrote in a very interesting way, and you have to read him between the lines. I used Bora Stanković’s work, but what lies between the lines. There would be no Balkan war without impure blood. Impure blood has existed in the Balkans for more than five hundred years. From the fall of the Nemanjić dynasty to the present day, we have been in constant uprisings and wars, with only temporary truces – said the film’s director Stojan Stojčić.

Bojana Peković on film for the first time

The debut role in the film “Balkan War” is played by the multi-talented artist Bojana Peković, who was the first and only person to study the gusle at the Music Academy in Helsinki. Peković plays the character of Sofija, the daughter of the tragic beauty from Vranje, Sofka.

The plot follows the life and fate of Sofija, one of a long line of victims of the impure blood that constantly boils and is passed down from generation to generation. Playing the gusle, she brings to life on the big screen the tragic story of her mother and ancestors.

– I never expected to end up on the big screen, but it truly made me happy. This was a challenge from which I gained a lot. The role was very interesting to me because it combines my love of the stage with an element that is very important for the gusle – acting. Approaching this role was a challenge, but also a huge inspiration, because the character I play evokes, through the narrative of the gusle, memories of her mother, grandfather, father and everything they went through. Through this role I discovered some new sides of myself, and it helped me strengthen my artistic expression – said the film’s lead actress and gusle player Bojana Peković.

Music as a symbol

Bojana Peković, together with her brother Nikola Peković and Relja Jakovljević, also wrote the music for the film “Balkan War”.

– The music in this film features the sounds of the gusle and the accordion, instruments well known in our folk tradition. We wanted to use mainly these instruments to describe that era and that war. We wanted to bring a touch of novelty and freshness in order to present that older picture as clearly as possible with new sounds, and of course traditional ones too. The biggest challenge was bridging that gap in time, and we hope we succeeded. We brought the past together and in places introduced a new, contemporary sound – emphasised the co-author of the film’s music and professor of accordion at the Music Academy in Niš, Nikola Peković.

Petar Božović back on the big screen

An outstanding role in the film is also played by the bard of the Serbian stage Petar Božović who plays the character of Patriarch Lukijan Bogdanović. The role of Tomča is played by Filip Gajić, while Rade Šerbedžija and Svetlana Veličković, with their striking performances, appear in the memories of the film’s characters, taking us back to the atmosphere of the film “Impure Blood”.

– My strongest impression from the filming was playing alongside a young and talented girl, Bojana Peković, who, by raising our national, often disputed instrument, lifted the gusle with her skilful hands to the level of a Stradivarius. I must admit that I cried watching it, deeply feeling that vertical line that connects us all – said actor Petar Božović.

“Impure Blood” is a 1996 film based on the novel of the same name by Bora Stanković. The leading roles in the first part of the film were played by Maja Stojanović, Rade Šerbedžija, Ljuba Tadić, Filip Gajić and Svetlana Veličković.

U filmu “Balkan War” , in addition to new material, viewers can look forward to the premiere of old footage related to the memories of Sofka’s daughter, who through these stories relives everything her mother, Sofka, went through.