Directed by Aleksandar Petrović • 1965 • Yugoslavia

The first mature masterpiece from a figurehead of Yugoslav film, Three established Aleksandar Petrović at the forefront of the so-called Black Wave movement. Across a triptych of stories, we follow a soldier named Miloš (iconic actor Velimir “Bata” Živojinović) as he wends his way through the horrors of the Second World War: from the hysteria of the early days of the conflict, through the brutality of Nazi occupation, and finally the moral murk of early Communist rule and retribution. Petrović and veteran cinematographer Tomislav Pinter navigate the tonal shifts of the anthology format with ease, equally adept at capturing the psychological torment of their protagonist as they are surveying the beautiful but scarred Balkan landscapes and the everyday tragedies of war.

THREE • TRI
Written and directed by Aleksandar Petrović
From the story Fern and Fire by Antonije Isaković
Cinematography by Tomislav Pinter
Edited by Mirjana Mitić
Starring: Velimir “Bata” Živojinović, Voja Mirić, Slobodan Perović

In Serbian with English subtitles

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, 1967