THE AMBUSH
A film review by Thomas E. Billings
Copyright 1991 Thomas E. Billings
Synopsis: In Serbia, just after World War II, an idealistic young man joins the Young Communists. He works with the secret police, in their campaign to exterminate all anti-revolutionary elements. A gritty, realistic and compelling drama that exposes Communism as a completely corrupt and murderous system. It's not surprising that this film was banned by the Yugoslavian government!
Yugoslavia (English subtitles), black-and-white, 1969, banned by Yugoslavian government censors, released 1990, 80 minutes. Director: Zivojin Pavlovic.
The story centers on Ive, an idealistic and naive young man who firmly believes in the Communist Party and its ideology. His initial association with the Party is as a musician at various functions. However, his involvement grows, particularly when his friends criticize him for his girlfriend, whose father is a known bourgeois.
Ive neglects his schooling to work with the secret police in their campaign to exterminate the anti-revolutionary elements, the Chetniks, who are the remnants of the previous ruling class. He helps set up ambushes, where the Chetniks can be killed or captured.
This film was made in 1969, and banned by the Yugoslavian government after its initial screening. The film, by portraying Communism in a very realistic light, severely criticizes it. In this film, you clearly see the Communist ideals of social justice. The Father of Ive's girlfriend is condemned as a bourgeouis in a kangaroo trial. Their "logic" is that you are rich; this proves you stole the property you now have; therefore it is morally correct for us to throw you out of your house. This they do, then descend on his house like a gang of thieves and vandals, ransacking it.
The secret police are shown engaging in deplorable behavior in their campaign of political "justice." They kill people who are found with UNNRA food packages (UNNRA = U.N. Refugee Relief Agency), then trade the food for sex. They stop people they suspect of anti- revolutionary activity, and execute them on the spot. They "requisition" grain from mills by stealing it at gunpoint. They try to ambush the Chetniks, and kill them without giving them a chance to surrender. Also, when they return to the village, they lie about their exploits, portraying themselves as heroes.
Further, the film also states, clearly but by implication, that Stalin and Tito are murderers and liars. Given the mass murder of their regimes, that is an accurate characterization. The clear message of the film is that Communism is rotten to the core, and Communists are either naive (like Ive), or evil (liars, thieves, murderers). Simply by presenting a realistic portrait of the revolution, the film harshly condemns it. Given the film's message, it's not surprising that it was banned by the Yugoslavian government after its initial screenings in 1969.
The film is in black-and-white and there are no "stars" in it. However, I strongly recommend seeing it if you have the opportunity. It superbly tells a chilling and compelling story, about a corrupt and murderous social and political system.
Print Source: Centar Film; Borisa Kidrica 71; Belgrade 11000; Yugoslavia.
Reviewer contact: teb@stat.Berkeley.EDU
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