Zafranović film ‘Zlatni rez 42’ premieres amid political debate

The film ‘Zlatni rez 42 – Djeca Kozare’ by director Lordan Zafranović, which depicts the suffering of Serbian children and civilians in the NDH concentration camps during WWII, has held premieres in Belgrade and Banja Luka. The project, which focuses on the atrocities at Kozara and Jasenovac, received significant financial support from Republika Srpska, covering nearly one-third of the budget.

The film has sparked intense political and social controversy. Actor Rene Bitorajac, who portrays the historical figure Maksa Luburić, defended his casting as a professional challenge and denied that the production was tied to political figures like Aleksandar Vučić or Milorad Dodik, stating the contract was with a private production house.

While supporters and officials like Milorad Dodik view the film as a necessary way to convey historical truth to new generations, critics have raised concerns regarding its political context and potential use in propaganda. The director emphasized that the film is a fictional drama intended to explore the mechanism of evil rather than a strictly documentary reconstruction.