Premiere of the Film “Balkan War”
The premiere of the film Balkan War, the latest cinematic achievement by director Stojan Stojčić, will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at the Sava Center (Blue Hall). The Belgrade premiere, attended by the film crew and a large number of public figures, is scheduled for 9:00 PM, while the pre-premiere screening will take place at 6:00 PM.
Continuation of a Cult Saga
The film Balkan War follows historical events from 1900 up to the beginning of World War I, depicting a turbulent period on the Balkan Peninsula filled with uprisings and war conflicts. It is a continuation of the cult saga Impure Blood, which Stojan Stojčić first introduced to audiences back in 1996. The original film starred Rade Šerbedžija, Maja Stojanović, and singer Svetlana Veličković in the lead roles.
In this continuation of the cinematic story, filmed nearly three decades later, audiences will, for the first time, have the opportunity to see certain scenes that were not included in Impure Blood.
“Bora Stanković wrote in a very intriguing way, and you have to read between the lines. I used Stanković’s literature, but the one between the lines. The Balkan War would not exist without impure blood. Impure blood has been present 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 in between,” emphasized the film’s director, Stojan Stojčić.
Bojana Peković Makes Her Film Debut
The film Balkan War marks the debut role of the multi-talented artist Bojana Peković, who is the first and only student to have studied the gusle at the Music Academy in Helsinki. Peković portrays the character of Sofija, the daughter of the tragic beauty Sofka from Vranje.
The film’s storyline follows the life and fate of Sofija, one in a long line of victims of impure blood, which continuously boils and passes from generation to generation. By 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. I found this role very interesting because it combines my love for the stage with an essential element of gusle performance—acting. It was both a challenge and a great inspiration to take on this role, as my character, through the narrative of the gusle, evokes memories of her mother, grandfather, father, and everything they endured. Through this role, I discovered new aspects of myself, and it has helped 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, is also responsible for composing the music for the film Balkan War.
“The music in this film incorporates the sounds of the gusle and accordion, instruments deeply rooted in our folk tradition. We wanted to use these instruments predominantly to depict that era and the war. At the same time, we aimed to introduce a touch of novelty and freshness to present an older historical picture through both new and traditional sounds. The biggest challenge was bridging the time gap, and we hope we succeeded. We have unified the past while also bringing a new, contemporary sound,” emphasized Nikola Peković, co-composer of the film’s music and professor of accordion at the Music Academy in Niš.
Petar Božović Returns to the Big Screen
Renowned Serbian actor Petar Božović delivers an outstanding performance in the film, portraying Patriarch Lukijan Bogdanović. The role of Tomča is played by Filip Gajić, while Rade Šerbedžija and Svetlana Veličković reappear in evocative flashbacks, bringing the audience back to the atmosphere of Impure Blood.
“The most profound impression I had during filming was working alongside a young and talented actress, Bojana Peković. By elevating our national instrument—the often-disputed gusle—to the level of a Stradivarius with her skilled hands, she moved me to tears. I deeply felt that connection, that vertical line that binds us all together,” said actor Petar Božović.
Impure Blood (1996) is a film based on the novel of the same name by Bora Stanković. The lead roles in the first film were played by Maja Stojanović, Rade Šerbedžija, Ljuba Tadić, Filip Gajić, and Svetlana Veličković.
In Balkan War, in addition to new material, audiences will also see never-before-released footage from the original film. These scenes serve as the memories of Sofija, Sofka’s daughter, who relives her mother’s past through these stories, experiencing everything Sofka once went through.