King Petar the First (2018) User Reviews

Sad, interesting, still far from excellent

[leonidasoriginal · 7/10 · 8 January 2021]

It is an interesting movie about King Petar and the retreat of the Serbian army and civilians, who were forced to leave their homes due to the horrors of war and huge aggression by many axis forces.

The movie is well made and tho it is slow-paced, it has a deep and emotional approach to the whole situation and historical event, which is ignored by modern-day society.

It is a fact that the Serbian population defended much more than only Serbia and were standing tall against not one, but three aggressors. Serbia was a powerful force against the Ottoman empire as well, but to this day, it is a country that does not get the respect it deserves when talking about the Balkan wars, WW1 and WW2.

However, the movie states it is a true story, but it fails with those silly socks and stating that someone died from a "broken heart". There is no proof he had those socks with him, nor is there any proof someone died from "broken heart" making this only a movie with some elements based on real events.

What the movie lacks is more info about aggressors. The world should know! The modern-day world is not aware of the suffering the Serbian nation has been through in both WW's, And today, the west even defends nations that were part of Axis forces. Some of them are even powerful, rich countries, which makes me think: Who actually lost and won both WW?"

Germany for example is far richer than each and every country on the Balkan, jet we say we won. We won what actually?

Sad movie, I liked it a lot, but can't say it is excellent. Actors are BRILLIANT! King even looks like actual Petar I. Two main soldiers did a great job, but the third "soldier" really amazes me!

This is not an easy Sunday movie. It is a story of suffering, death, and horrors of war. It is a story about one nation, a story that is ignored in the modern-day world. A story that many use to ridicule Serbia, not being aware of how important this country was to the whole of Europe, not only the Balkan area! And many don't know this is not just running, but more of: "We will not bow down, we rather walk a thousand miles if we have to than surrender to you!"

History is important

[rollingkebab · 10/10 · 29 March 2019]

I was very skeptical of the main actors itself and the fact that the state was a sponsor of the film, but I went to the cinema and to be honest film is excellent! I have a couple of little objections, but the story of King Peter, Momcilo Gavric and the Serbian people during the war and the Golgothy combined fantastic! Production is at an enviable level as well as scenes, effects, extras, costumes in relation to what I have hoped for and what we can often see on our films with this subject, and at some point the film is extremely stressful and difficult to watch. The best role is definitely the kid who plays Momcilo Gavric. Recommendation to all,make sure you look IT at the cinema.

great

[Kirpianuscus · 27 November 2020]

The first virtue - it is a historical Eastern film. You feel that scene by scene. Second - it is a great testimony about one of terrible episodes of Serbian history. Not the last - it propose a magnificent performance of Lazar Ristovski. Sure, it seems too complex, mixing themes and characters more useful for a serie. But , obvious, using its tools, it is more impressive than Hollywood blockbusters with historical scenes. Because it is not exactly a film about heroism but about people. Their pain, kindness, love, fight, hope, friendship, survive, death, ways, faith, king.And the cinematography is more than inspired. Short, just a great film.

Poor script

[harryplinkett14 · 5/10 · 19 April 2019]

Sometimes when films are made, one deliberately films some extra footage so that there is enough material for a TV series as well. Unfortunately, in this case they had a script for a 12 episode long TV series, which they proceeded to butcher in order to make a film out of it. That did not work out. From beginning to end, one feels that scenes don't fit well together, because numerous scenes have been cut out of the original script. The film comes across as an afterthought, an exercise in reducing ten hours of material to one fifth of that length.

The TV series is much better, and I would advise everyone to skip the film and watch the series.

Hollywood style experience in Serbian blockbuster

[dimitrijejoki · 10/10 · 7 December 2018]

This movie has everything that one good historical movie should have: An important topic for the history of the Great War, great acting, beautiful camera work, enchanting battles and most important, it shows the suffering of the Serbian people during retreat througt Albanian mountins in 1915.

Though very good, the film suffers from an excessive amount of events it shows, since the film originated from a 11-episode TV show material that will probably fill these tiny holes in chronology.

All in all, the film is must see if you like movies about war (WW1 and WW2) , and it is certainly one of the best Serbian films in this century.

Poor story

[riletm · 5/10 · 11 December 2020]

I stopped watch ing after 40 minute. Story doesn't make a sense, to many gaps... Special effect are preety good, so you can make a feeling how bloody and meaningles was Great war.

No glorifying of war in this tragic and beautiful film

[[e-mail] · 9/10 · 26 February 2021]

Lazar Ristovski channels the ideal of a benevolent king majestically.This perspective on the First World War--from the east--is so rarely studied in the west. We all learn that the catalyst for the war was a shot fired in Sarajevo, but pick up the tales in Western Europe. I hope the film leads audiences to regard the more recent genocidal infractions committed by Serbs in the longer the timeline of horrific wars, and given this context minds move from the narrow condemnation of a specific people in a moment in time, to comprehend the wider sin of the problem solving with might. Kralj Petar I artfully conveys the stupidity and brutality of war.

Tough and Brilliant!

[alexscg · 10/10 · 12 January 2021]

My great grandfather has actually been through this (he did not make it), so I had a very emotional and personal attachment to this movie, as did so many Serbs, I am sure. It's based on a true event. I am not going to mark this as containing spoilers because it is based on what actually happened in history. So, these events are known, but I did not disclose the details of the movie itself.

In 1914, Serbia had expelled Austria-Hungary 3 times.

When Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria did a combined attack against Serbia, the option to surrender was out of the question. The only way to temporarily retreat was south, over the rough, bitter cold Albanian mountains, where Serbia would connect to the Allies.

Eventually, the Serbian Army - what was left of it - made it to the Greek island of Corfu, where it recovered in a matter of months, then making the swift return home to liberate Serbia.

This episode in Serbian history is known as the Albanian Golgotha, and is the main focus of the movie. I loved the coronation scene in the beginning. King Peter I of Serbia was a truly democratic ruler. He also translated John Stuart Mill's work "On Freedom" and is in Serbia known as King the Liberator. He is Serbia's most respected King and the only one in modern Serbian history to have been crowned.

This movie was the Serbian candidate for the Oscars, did not make it. If this were an episode in American history, and if it were an American movie, it would have won an Oscar.

The movie will be subtitled in several languages, so please see it if you can.

Best Serbian movie!

[goranub · 10/10 · 7 February 2020]

This is like Hollywood blockbuster war movie. Show the real story about Serbian people when was attack with 3 countries and how our people survive. My my great-grandfather died in the moving through Albania.