Balkan Spy

ram
2 min readJul 8, 2023

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Picture taken from the internet for representational purpose only not with an intention to violation of copyright

Award winning Serbian comedy movie “Balkan Spy” (1984) directed by Dusan Kovacevic and Bozidar Nikolic and starring Bata Stojkovic, Bora Todorovic, Mira Banjac, Sonja Savic, Zvonko Lepetic among others.

The movie was made in the 1989 pre-liberation era when communist tendencies were ruling high. Ilija Čvorović (Bata Stojkovic) is called to the police on a routine inquiry to know about his tenant Petar Markov Jakovljević (Bora Todorovic).

Ilija assumes he is a spy and starts doubting him and following him and taking photographs of Petar and his friends. He sounds ludicrous doing this even as the police officer assures him there is nothing to it. Ilija’s wife Danica (Mira Banjac) is more worried about their daughter Sonja (Sonja Savic) not getting a job even after qualifying as a dentist.

Sonja thinks her father is crazy while Danica initially is skeptical but later confronts Petar when he is about to leave for US and asks her why her husband has been following him and disturbing his friends.

Hilarious as it may sound Ilija ropes in his brother Dura (Zvonko Lepetic) and Dura proves to be more energetic and enthusiastic than his brother. Seems to be a subtle satire against communist brothers harbouring ill will against capitalistic thoughts and means. Enough gags to keep the script going.

Bata Stojkovic has acted superbly as the crazy communist acting out of his bounds. Good movie to watch. IMDB 5/10

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