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Innocence Unprotected

Released Nov 12, 1968 1h 27m Drama List
100% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
In this unusual hybrid of documentary and experimental filmmaking, director Dusan Makavejev reappropriates scenes from a 1940s, Nazi-censored drama crafted by Yugoslavian athlete Dragoljub Aleksic. Makavejev fuses together clips from Aleksic's previously unseen film, original interviews with the would-be stars, Ana Milosavljevic and Vera Jovanovic, of this lost movie and archival footage of Aleksic showing off his acrobatic brilliance to dizzying effect.

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times ... One of the most delightful films I've ever seen, and one of the hardest to describe: It's funny, tragic, filled at one moment with black humor and at the next with disarming naivete and in form and style totally original. Rated: 4/4 Jul 3, 2018 Full Review Tom Milne Time Out Makavejev's third film, an entrancing collage using excerpts from the first Serbian talkie, a hilariously nave melodrama made in occupied Belgrade in 1942 with film stock stolen from the Germans. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Roger Greenspun New York Times I value Makavejev's extraordinary insights into ordinary affairs and his gentle juggling act with Acrobat Aleksic. Rated: 4/5 May 9, 2005 Full Review Penelope Houston The Spectator It's a bold and rather winning curiosity: an obscure Balkan footnote to filth 'history, decked out in spangles and annotated with its own footnotes. Jul 11, 2018 Full Review TV Guide A real love for the film medium irradiates the production. Rated: 4/4 Nov 6, 2007 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 4/5 Aug 14, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (13) audience reviews
david l Due to undeniably amazing, impressive cuts and edits, very interesting interviews, Makavejev's phenomenal direction, and an authentic, one of a kind structure to it, Nevinost bez zastite (Innocence Unprotected) is indisputably the very definition of an idiosyncratic motion picture. It is so difficult to categorize and organize into genres in fact that it really becomes a fascinating, thematically rich case study for Serbian cinema history that truly is an utter delight, especially for cinephiles longing for something entirely different. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review walter m This is an entertaining documentary about "Innocence Unprotected," the first film made in the Serbian language, during the Nazi Occupation of Yugoslavia in 1942. Showing near a German language film in Belgrade, it drew huge audiences and the attention of a Nazi official all the way from Berlin, temporarily getting the filmmakers in hot water. This could also be seen as one of the flashpoints of Serbian nationalism which does not end well... ...but this is only 1968 when most of the surviving cast and crew have gotten together to talk about their experiences and how they just wanted to make a movie and a little money. For Dragoljub Aleksic, the creative force behind the film, the idea was to make a film to showcase his athletic talents. 25 years later, he is still in top shape, even if he has to now wear a metal corset due to some tomfoolery in his past, unrelated to the human cannonball act he tried to start at one point. To be honest, at least from the clips shown here, the film looks like a shoddy and cliched melodrama. So, the moral of the documentary is you just never know. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member An art house experiment that is nearly perfect in execution by one of the kings of surreal and weird, Dusan Makavejev. A bit long in places due to the old talkie and some odd placements of commercials, but this is not weird merely for the quirks, but also to subvert the authorities and help tell the story of Yugoslavia and its eventual separation into new countries. Really amazing stunts by the lead actor. A really fun movie experience that will be an odd ride for most. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Dusan Makavejev's third feature is a interesting, weird, yet somewhat captivating collage which is essentially a documentary about the first Serbian talkie, which is a rather laughable melodrama. Makavejev uses footage from the actual film, interviews with the people behind the film, and stock footage to tell this bizarre tale. It's essentially a probing study of juxtaposition, as he creates a film as much about the state of Yugoslavia's past and present, as it is about the first Serbian talkie and it's stars. It's an interesting piece fo'sho, but It just didn't grab my attention the way I was hoping it would. That is, outside the sequences revolving around the star of the film, Acrobat Aleksic. These segments about this man are incredibly entertaining. Aleksic has such a presence and he's such a bizarrely captivating individual that you can't help but have a smile on your face whenever he is on screen. All in all it's a rather typical Makavejev type film in all it's strange glory. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member An endearing, but somewhat clunky documentary about a very naive and clunky Serbian movie. The naïveté is outshined by the fact that it was the first Serbian talkie filmed with stolen film from the occupying Germans. Fascinating from an historical perspective. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a pretty brilliant and crazy mix of clips forming somewhat of a narrative. The clips are sourced mainly from Yugoslavia's first talkie entitled "Innocence Unprotected," which was written/directed/produced/starring Yugoslavian strongman Dragoljub Aleksic. This footage is intercut with present day interviews and other footage with Aleksic and the other cast members, as well as WWII and post-WWII footage from Yugoslavia. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Innocence Unprotected

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this unusual hybrid of documentary and experimental filmmaking, director Dusan Makavejev reappropriates scenes from a 1940s, Nazi-censored drama crafted by Yugoslavian athlete Dragoljub Aleksic. Makavejev fuses together clips from Aleksic's previously unseen film, original interviews with the would-be stars, Ana Milosavljevic and Vera Jovanovic, of this lost movie and archival footage of Aleksic showing off his acrobatic brilliance to dizzying effect.
Director
Dusan Makavejev
Screenwriter
Dusan Makavejev, Branko Vucicevic
Distributor
Grove Press, Facets
Production Co
Avala Film
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 12, 1968, Original
Runtime
1h 27m
Sound Mix
Mono