Mladomir Puriša Đorđević stands as one of the most significant representatives of the “Black Wave,” the revolutionary movement that shook Yugoslav cinema in the 1960s. This Barbican programme focuses on the director’s famous tetralogy, which portrays the tragedy of war not merely through the sound of gunfire, but through the deep scars it leaves on the human soul.
The Signature of Đorđević’s Cinema
- Experimental Narration: Poetic use of black-and-white and colour cinematography.
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: Actors looking directly into the camera to engage with the audience.
- Dark Humour and Satire: Confronting the absurdity of war through ironic and bleak comedy.
What’s in the Programme?
The retrospective includes the director’s four most powerful films:
- The Girl (Devojka): Shot in the style of a stream-of-consciousness diary, this remains one of Đorđević’s most original works from the 1960s.
- The Dream (San): A shattering film that blends the experience of the Second World War with surreal elements.
- The Morning (Jutro): The best-known link in the series and one of the cornerstones of the Yugoslav Black Wave. The film boldly questions the human cost of war.
- Noon (Podne): Set in 1948 Belgrade, this lyrical mosaic contains some of the most beautiful colour frames ever shot in Yugoslav cinema up to that time.
Visitor Information & Opportunities
Dates: 14 January – 1 February 2026
Venue: Barbican Centre, London
Why You Should Go
If you love the war dramas of directors like Roberto Rossellini or Andrzej Wajda, Đorđević’s poetic and experimental world will offer you an entirely different cinematic perspective. These films are not merely war movies; they are universal laments that tell how history shatters the lives of ordinary people.
