Josef (film)

Josef is 2011 Croatian drama and war film directed by Stanislav Tomić depicting war story of Austrian-Hungarian Croat soldier during World War I in 1915 in Galicia.^[1]

In the film, stress is given to effective photos, music, violence and sex.^[2]

The film is written by Mario Marko Krce.

Opening song of the film, "Josef", is composed and played by Marko Perković.^[3]

Critics were very positive. Critics especially praised costumes and scenography, even though film was produced with low budget and in an independent production.

The film won the Golden Arena for Best Special Effects at the 2011 Pula Film Festival.^[4]

Plot

In 1915, during World War I in Galicia, Croatian soldiers serving in the Austro-Hungarian Army were sent on Eastern Front to fight against Russian Army and Circassian bandits. An Austrian-Hungarian soldier who has survived the battle, a Croat, takes uniform and identification tag from a dead NCO.^[2] Later, the Croat and a group of Croatian and Hungarian deserters are captured by the Austrians led by Lieutenant Ali Tiffenbach. Before the Croat could be executed by firing squad with the rest of the deserters, he is mistaken for Zugsführer Josef, the dead NCO whose identification tag he's carrying. The Austrian Colonel decides to spare the Croat because Josef is well known as a regimental fencing champion, much to the disappointment of Lieutenant Tiffenbach, who suspects that the Croat is an impostor. Tiffenbach later confirms his suspicions when he easily defeats "Josef" in a sword duel.

Later, Tiffenbach's unit is attacked and obliterated by a group of Circassian bandits led by a Russian officer, Captain Seryoza. The Croat hides the severely wounded Tiffenbach in a shack and switches their uniforms, believing the bandits would spare him if he is dressed like an officer. However, the bandits kill the Croat the moment they see him. Tiffenbach, now wearing Josef's uniform and identification tag, is later found by a woman named Pelagija, who takes him to her cabin in the woods. Pelagija tends to Tiffebach's wounds for a few days but later betrays him to the Circassians in exchange for a horse.

Over the next few days, Tiffenbach and two other captured soldiers are physically tortured and forced to do heavy work in the Circassian camp. The Circassians join the regular Russian Army and Tiffenbach is thrown in a prison where he is left to starve. Soon the Austrian Army begins a great offensive, defeating the Russians and capturing their positions. Before the end of the battle, Captain Seryoza finds Tiffenbach and switches their uniforms, joining the Austrians. After the battle, the Austrians execute their prisoners, including Tiffenbach who is only half-conscious and unable to identify himself. Seryoza joins the Austrians as they return to their camp and takes a look at Josef's tag to see the name Josip Broz, implying that he would one day become Tito, the President of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Roles

Major roles

Supporting roles

Theories about Tito's origin

• The real Josep Broz was killed and replaced by a Russian agent in Soviet Russia.^[5]
• Tito was actually Jošua Ambroz Tito, Austrian Jew.

Such theories were inspiration for creation of this movie, but are not considered to have any significant historical basis.

References

External links

• Josef on IMDb
• Josef (2011) at Moj film (in Croatian)
• Josef (2011) Tralier at Moj film (in Croatian)