The Living and the Dead (2007 film)
Croatian horror film set during the Croat–Bosniak War.
The Living and the Dead (original Croatian title: Živi i mrtvi) is a 2007 horror film from Croatia, directed by Kristijan Milić. The plot follows Bosnian Croat soldiers from the HVO during the Croat–Bosniak War (1992–1994) who come across a supernatural presence. The movie was shot in Prozor-Rama, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and premiered in 2007. That same year, it received the Big Golden Arena for Best Film at the Pula Film Festival.
The story unfolds across two time periods. In 1943, a group of Croatian troops seize a key location in western Bosnia, aiming to eliminate a band of communist Partisans. Along the way, they experience strange supernatural events, and their mission goes awry when the Partisans spring an ambush. The main character, Martin, receives a silver cigarette case from a dying soldier. This object links to 1993, where Martin’s grandson, Tomo, is one of six Croatian army soldiers who arrive at the same Bosnian location, only to encounter the same eerie phenomena and a similarly grim outcome.
The cast includes Filip Šovagović as Tomo and Martin, Velibor Topić as Vijali, Slaven Knezović as Coro, Marinko Prga as Mali, Borko Perić as Robe, Miro Barnjak as Ivo, Božidar Orešković as the commander, Enes Vejzović as Ferid and the ARBIH soldier at the cabin, Izudin Bajrović as Stojan, Ljubomir Jurković as Semin, Robert Roklicer as Captain Dane Boro, Zvonko Zečević as First Lieutenant Knez, Dragan Suvak as the shot Partisan, and Nino Soric as Pejo.
For home media, the film came out on DVD in the United States through TLA Releasing on 25 March 2008, followed by a release from DNC on 19 May that same year.
- title
- The Living and the Dead (2007 film)
- director
- Kristijan Milić
- release_year
- 2007
- country
- Croatia
- genre
- Horror
- award
- Big Golden Arena for Best Film at the Pula Film Festival (2007)
- filming_location
- Prozor-Rama, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lore & Background
The film's plot spans two time periods. In 1943, a group of Croatian soldiers overtake a strategically important point in western Bosnia with a goal to destroy a group of communist Partisans. On the way they encounter supernatural phenomena, and the action itself goes very badly because the Partisans ambush them. The main character Martin inherits a silver cigarette case from a dying soldier. This act connects to the story in 1993 when we meet Martin's grandson Tomo. He is one of six soldiers of the Croatian army who have come to the same place in Bosnia to meet the same phenomena and similar fate.
The cast includes Filip Šovagović as Tomo / Martin, Velibor Topić as Vijali, Slaven Knezović as Coro, Marinko Prga as Mali, Borko Perić as Robe, Miro Barnjak as Ivo, Božidar Orešković as the commander, Enes Vejzović as Ferid / the ARBIH soldier at the cabin, Izudin Bajrović as Stojan, Ljubomir Jurković as Semin, Robert Roklicer as Captain Dane Boro, Zvonko Zečević as First Lieutenant Knez, Dragan Suvak as the shot Partisan, and Nino Soric as Pejo.
The film was released on DVD in the United States by TLA Releasing on 25 March 2008, and later by DNC on 19 May that same year.
Reader's Guide
The Living and the Dead is significant as a Croatian horror film that uses the backdrop of the Croat–Bosniak War (1992–1994) to explore supernatural themes. Its narrative structure, linking events in 1943 and 1993 through a silver cigarette case, creates a generational horror story. The film's recognition at the Pula Film Festival, where it won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film in 2007, marks it as a notable entry in Croatian cinema. The film was shot on location in Prozor-Rama, Bosnia and Herzegovina, grounding its supernatural elements in a real wartime setting. Its release on DVD in the United States in 2008 helped introduce the film to an international audience. The cast features several actors from the region, including Filip Šovagović in a dual role as both the grandfather Martin and grandson Tomo.
Did You Know?
- The film won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film at the Pula Film Festival in 2007.
- It was filmed in Prozor-Rama, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- The main character Martin inherits a silver cigarette case from a dying soldier, which connects the 1943 and 1993 storylines.
- The film was released on DVD in the United States by TLA Releasing on 25 March 2008.
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