petarmatic When I was growing up in Sarajevo during those times I never thought that this film in the later years will be called Communist propaganda. It really is that, just that, good action Yugoslav Communist propaganda. It is really popular in China. I am not sure why, but it is. Even today Chinese tourists come to Sarajevo to visit filming sets.As far as plot goes it is a typical WWII action film. Nothing that particular or special about it. Yugoslavia produced number of these during those years. Pity these countries left from Yugoslavia do not have the budgets or capabilities to produce even better film then those. But film industry has changed a lot over the years, and with break up of Yugoslavia, things changed dramatically.

lifesurfer2002 I am a Chinese of the 60s. Agree with everything my fellow Chinese says. The only other film/TV series close in my opinion is Band of Brothers. Not mentioned above is the fact the beautiful music which is such an integral part of the film. The great thing about the film is they don't picture the Germans as stereotypical demons, which makes it more convincing to the audience. I did some research on Yugoslav's part in WWII and would really like to know more about them. Unfortunately, the materials in Chinese and English are very limited. Really want to know about the musicians but no info on them is available either.Also just found out that all the German officers are played by German actors, which makes it very convincing. What is so pathetic is the hero was only ranked #9 of the best Serbian Actors & Actresses... Just dug out the history between the countries within Yugoslav and I can understand why they don't think that highly of the film like the Chinese do.

d_pokrajac This movie is a typical Partizan "western" with "black-and-white" characters. The movie is losely inspired by actual events from WW II but its content could not be called historically true.What is the most interesting thing about this movie is that it was immensely popular in the People Republic of China. I talked to quite a few Chinese people born in sixties, and literally everybody went with school to see the movie. I think that "Valter brani Sarajevo" could easily be the most popular foreign movie in China.During NATO action in Serbia, when USA hit the Chinese embassy, the actor who played Valter, Bata Zivoinovic, visited wounded Chinese people in hospital, and they cherished his appearance there...

Maksimilijan Bogosavljeviæ The lyrics of U2's 1997 hit 'Discotheque' apply perfectly to "Valter brani Sarajevo" and sum up my feelings about the movie:'......you know you're chewing bubble-gum,*** you know what that is, but you still want some,*** you just can't get enough of that lovie-dovie stuff........'On one hand, this is another one of the ridiculous state-sponsored war bonanzas taking up a large part of 1960s and '70s Yugoslav cinematography - most of them high on propaganda, cheap stereotypes and tear jerk moments seen coming from a mile away, designed to glorify the struggle of 'Yugoslav peoples' against German occupiers & domestic traitors. However, on the other, it is also a pretty well made 'lemonade with lotsa sugar' action flick with a decent plot and good characters that pull the viewer right in and don't let go.It, of course, stars Bata Zivojinovic and Ljubisa Samardzic in yet another role that calls for 'Yugoslavia's top duo' to outsmart, outwit and eliminate as many Germans as humanly possible. Supposedly, "Valter brani Sarajevo" was a hit of huge proportions in China where to this day our boy Bata is an enormous star. Well, I guess billion Chinese can't be wrong.