Father by Force (1969) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language

1969 · 86 mins · Serbo-Croatian

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Directed by

Soja Jovanović

Starring

Mira Banjac, Miodrag Milovanov, Mihajlo 'Bata' Paskaljević, Ljuba Tadić, Milutin Mićović, Darinka 'Dara' Čalenić

Inspired by the comedy of famed Yugoslav playwright Branislav Nušić, the film follows young poet Žarko, who is chased by police for publishing an anti‑regime poem. He hides at his friend Dušan’s house, where Dušan introduces him to his parents and sister Zorica as his former schoolmate Vlajko Mićić. Zorica, enchanted by Žarko’s verses, falls for the impostor, while he keeps his true identity concealed. Observing their growing affection, Zorica’s parents, prompted by a family friend, quietly invite “Vlajko’s” father to their home.