THE ASSASSINS FROM SALONIKA (Солунските атентатори)
Movie from: 1961
Duration: 103 minutes
Director: Zhivorad Mitrovic - Zhika
Screenplay: Jovan Boshkovski
Leading Roles: Istref Begoli, Darko Damevski, Aleksandar Gavric, Behrens Marlies, Joakim Mok, Dragan Ocokoljic, Petre Prlichko, Stavo Spasovski, Marko Todorovic
Content: Wishing to draw the attention of world public opinion to the situation in Macedonia under Ottoman rule, a group of
Macedonian-socialists, sons of wealthy merchants from Veles, who live and study in Salonica, and who are strongly influenced by Russian
nihilist literature and the Geneva anarchists, decide in April 1903 to make a series of attacks on various business concerns in which
foreign capital has been invested. The targets of the attacks are the French vessel "Guadalquivir", the Ottoman Bank, the Electricity
plant and the G. P. O. in Salonica. The achievement of their aims means death for the activists themselves. But they give up their lives
willingly for a holy cause - the freedom of Macedonia.
Resume: "The Assassins from Salonica" succeeding "Miss Stone", was the second historical film. It definitely established the
formal elements of the genre and its dramatic foundation. Both films were directed by Zika Mitrovic. Their contents were based on authentic
historical events from the pre-Ilinden period and together they made up two original film variations about the corresponding historical
situation. The screenplay for this film was written by Jovan Boshkovski.
In the center of the story are the lives of six proud and devoted patriots who have dedicated to start their fight for liberation from
Turkish slavery by carrying out terrorist attacks in Salonica, in order to make the Macedonian people's fight known to the whole of Europe.
The group is significant for their high values, for their readiness and willingness to sacrifice their lives for the sake of liberation.
This scope of values makes them different from the rest of the characters, even from those who share their opinion but have chosen different
methods. At the same time it explains their actions. In this established narrative, the dominant elements are those of the action and all
the possible entries of the theme cross this space and become a reality in it.
The location of the action, Salonika, at the beginning of the century, was successfully reconstructed and the art direction represents an
anthological masterpiece in Macedonian cinematography. Again the art director was Dime Shumka, whose artwork conveyed the vision of
decadency in the space as well as in the people who belonged to it. The cameraman Ljube Petkovski successfully discovers the visual
features in the written material.
The music, composed by Dushan Radic, a renowed composer, ideally suits the adopted stylistic concept. The film characters and their
protagonists were carefully chosen and presented.
Aleksandar Gavric, Darko Damevski, Dragan Ocokolic, Stevo Spasovski, Marko Todorovic and Ishtref Begoli played the assassins. The cast also
included Petre Prlichko, Stojka Cekova, Marlies Behrens, Jon Isaja and Joackim Mock. Some of the qualities of "The Assassins from Salonika"
have never been achieved again. On the whole, the polymorphic nature of the action and its experienced and skillful conveying on the screen
make it possible to transform this authentic historical event into a vivid film story about the "gemidzhiite" and their heroic lives.
Awards:
1961 FYFF, Pula, Traditional Award of the audience "Jelen" ("A Deer")
1961 FYFF, Pula, Special Festival Diploma for art direction / Dime Shumka
1961 FYFF, Pula, Special recognition by the Jury for cherising the action genre in the domestic film / Zhika Mitrovic
Sources: Macedonian Cinema Information Center and Cinemateque of Macedonia.
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