''Banović Strahinja'' (

Serbian Cyrillic The Serbian Cyrillic alphabet (, ), also known as the Serbian script, (, ), is a standardized variation of the Cyrillic script used to write the Serbian language. It originated in medieval Serbia and was significantly reformed in the 19th cen ...

: ''Бановић Страхиња'', released internationally as ''The Falcon'') is a

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

n-German adventure film written and directed by

Vatroslav Mimica Vatroslav Mimica (25 June 1923 – 15 February 2020) was a Croatian film director and screenwriter. Early life Born in Omiš, Mimica had enrolled at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine before the outbreak of World War II. In 1942 he j ...

based on

Strahinja Banović Strahinja Banović or Strahinjić Ban ( sr-cyr, Страхиња Бановић; died 15 June 1389 according to tradition) is the name of the nobleman and knight depicted in the Serbs, Serbian epic poem of the same title. It is unsure whether or ...

, a hero of

Serbian epic poetry Serbian epic poetry () is a form of epic poetry created by Serbs originating in today's Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. The main cycles were composed by unknown Serb authors between the 14th and 19th centu ...

. It entered the section "Officina Veneziana" at the

38th Venice International Film Festival The 38th annual Venice International Film Festival was held on 2 to 12 September, 1981. Italian writer and journalist Italo Calvino was the Jury President of the main competition. The Golden Lion winner was ''Marianne and Juliane'' directed by M ...

Plot

During the late 14th century

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

becomes the target of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

. The year is 1388 and Turkish bandits freely roam throughout southern Serbia. While the majority of

Serbian knights Serbian may refer to: * Pertaining to Serbia in Southeast Europe; in particular **Serbs, a South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans ** Serbian language ** Serbian culture **Demographics of Serbia, includes other ethnic groups within the co ...

is concentrated around the city of

Kruševac Kruševac ( sr-Cyrl, Крушевац, ) is a list of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the Rasina District in central Serbia. It is located in the valley of West Morava, on Rasina (river), Rasina river. According to the 202 ...

, capital of Serbia at the time, the southern borders are partially left undefended. It is not until the following year of 1389 when it will come to a total clash of two armies. While the respected Serbian noble

is out hunting, a Turkish renegade gang burns his castle, kills all of his servants, and takes the young wife of Banović Strahinja. Strahinja begins a long quest to rescue his wife despite everybody else's doubts in her fidelity. Strahinja gathers a posse of scoundrels and goes after the bandits. In the meantime, the Turkish bandit Alija tries to seduce Strahinja's wife Anđa, but she refuses him. However, over a period of time she begins to weaken.

Cast

Franco Nero Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film '' Django'' (1966), which made him a pop cul ...

as Banović Strahinja *

Gert Fröbe Karl Gerhart "Gert" Fröbe (; 25 February 1913 – 5 September 1988) was a German actor. He was known in English-speaking countries for his work as the title character in the James Bond film '' Goldfinger'', as Peachum in ''The Threepenny Opera ...

as Jug Bogdan *

Dragan Nikolić Dragoslav "Dragan" Nikolić ( sr-cyr, Драгослав Драган Николић, ; 20 August 1943 – 11 March 2016) was a Serbian and Yugoslav actor. Nikolić studied at Dramatic Arts Academy in Belgrade. In 1967 he starred in the film ' ...

as Alija *

Sanja Vejnović Sanja Vejnović (born 8 August 1961) is a Croatian film and television actress. Career Vejnović started her film career in 1978, with Branko Ivanda film ''Court Martial''. She came under international spotlight in Vatroslav Mimica's 1981 epic ...

as Anđa *

Rade Šerbedžija Rade Šerbedžija ( sr-Cyrl, Раде Шербеџија, ; born 27 July 1946) is a Croatian actor, director and musician. He is known for his portrayals of imposing figures on both sides of the law. He was one of the best known Yugoslav actors ...

as Abdulah * Kole Angelovski as Timotije *

Stole Aranđelović Stojan "Stole" Aranđelović (12 June 1930 – 8 April 1993) was a Serbian film actor. He appeared in 120 films between 1955 and 1993. He was born and died in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Selected filmography * ''Crveni cvet'' (1950) - Oficir * ...

as Pop Gradislav *

Neda Spasojević Neda Spasojević (16 April 1941 – 16 July 1981) was a Serbian film, television and theater actress. She appeared in more than sixty films from 1964 until her 1981 death from cancer at age 40. Early life Neda Spasojević was born in the Yugo ...

as Luda *

Janez Vrhovec Janez Vrhovec (19 January 1921 – 7 October 1997) was a Yugoslav actor of Slovenian-German origin. Vrhovec appeared in a number of Yugoslav and Serbian films, as well as many international productions, in a career spanning almost five decade ...

as Vladika * Rados Bajic as Boško Jugović

References

External links

* 1981 films 1980s action adventure films Films set in the 1380s Films directed by Vatroslav Mimica Films shot in Croatia Films set in Serbia Films set in the Ottoman Empire 1980s biographical films German action adventure films Yugoslav action adventure films Films shot in Serbia Serbo-Croatian-language films 1980s German films West German films Cultural depictions of Serbian people {{1980s-adventure-film-stub