Anno Domini 1573

The film takes place in Hrvatsko Zagorje, a hilly region in northern Croatia characterized by rugged forests, castles, and feudal estates. This rural landscape serves as the backdrop for the peasant uprising and the siege on Tahy's castle.

The story is set in 1573, during the late Renaissance period in the Croatian lands under Habsburg rule. This was a time of significant social tension between peasants and nobles throughout the region.

The film depicts the great Croatian peasant revolt of 1573, a real historical uprising against feudal oppression. Slovenian and Croatian peasants faced constant Turkish raids and heavy taxation for defense, while local lords led by Franjo Tahi exploited them, ultimately sparking armed rebellion.

The movie centers on a peasant uprising against feudal oppression, following characters like Gubec and Gregorić as they gather rebels, take an oath of unity, and march on the noble's castle. The film illustrates the costs and complexities of revolt, culminating in the Battle of Stubičko polje.

The film addresses how authorities attempt to erase the uprising's official records, shaping collective identity. It emphasizes that the struggle will echo through survivors and subsequent generations, suggesting that memory itself becomes a form of resistance against oppression.

A comedian troupe arrives to mock the nobility and church through satire, using performance as a form of social resistance. Regica's presence shows how art can mobilize and unify peasants, with the ending juxtaposing comedy and oppression to underscore art's role in preserving collective memory.

Petar is a young peasant whose father is killed by Tahy's men. He begins as a reluctant observer but follows the comedian troupe to join the uprising, eventually becoming a squire to rebel leader Ilija Gregorić and fighting as a peasant soldier. His journey represents the transformation from victim to participant.

Matija Gubec is a central figure in the rebellion who rallies peasants around the call for equality against the nobles. He issues bold directives and frames a vision of peasant rights, but faces a brutal end as the uprising collapses, becoming a martyr for the cause.

Ilija Gregorić is a fearless fighter who takes on Imperial troops and inspires the peasants with his bravery. He becomes the strategic leader of the uprising and mentors Petar, training the rebels for battle until he is ultimately captured by Imperial soldiers.

Franjo Tahy is the oppressive noble who exploits peasant labor and seizes resources for personal gain. He represents the feudal tyranny that the uprising seeks to overthrow, hiding during the siege on his castle as his power structure crumbles.

Regica is a member of the comedian troupe that arrives to mock the nobility and church. Through satire and performance, she helps awaken and unify the peasants, becoming a symbol of how art can accompany and bolster political uprising.

The film has a dark, intense tone reflecting harsh realities of serfdom, violent deaths, and executions. However, it carries a thread of hope, while the immediate rebellion is crushed, the survivors carry a defiant, hopeful message, making the ending bittersweet.