During the tumultuous year of 1943, the story unfolds in a German-occupied Yugoslav town, capturing the harsh realities faced by its residents under wartime repression. The film follows Sergeant Keller, portrayed by Richard Basehart, a German soldier who engages in sexual encounters with local women, some willingly and others coerced, revealing the complex and often tragic interactions between occupiers and the occupied. Keller confides in Ljuba, played by Jeanne Moreau, promising to help her prevent her brother from being sent to forced labor camps, highlighting a glimmer of hope amid chaos. However, his fate takes a brutal turn when he is captured by Partisans in the forest and subjected to castration by Branko, an act that underscores the violence inflicted on enemies and traitors alike.
The film traces the brutal consequences of political and personal allegiances. The Partisans, resisting the German occupation, impose punishment on five women—Jovanka, Ljuba, the widow Marija, Mira, and Daniza—by shaving their heads, a symbolic act of disgrace for their association with Keller. German Captain Reinhardt, who is caught in the web of these conflicts, raises concerns about the precarious position of the women—if they stay free, they are symbols of Partisan defiance; if detained, they become prisoners of war, complicating the German military’s moral calculus. As tensions escalate, the women choose to band together, with Daniza attempting suicide after being wrongly accused of sleeping with Keller, emphasizing the personal suffering intertwined with wartime decisions.
The narrative then intensifies as these women stumble upon a Partisan ambush, witnessing Germans pursuing their attackers into the woods. Seizing a moment of chaos, the women steal supplies from fallen soldiers—Jovanka taking boots, a coat, and a pistol, symbolizing their resilience and resourcefulness. They seek refuge in a shepherd’s hut but are soon discovered by local collaborators working for the Germans, the Home Guards. These men threaten violence, with Jovanka and Ljuba resisting assault through quick thinking and violence, including Jovanka shooting the men to defend herself.
In a moment of fragile camaraderie, the women bathe in a mountain pool, where Mira reveals she is pregnant—a detail that underscores the personal toll of war. Their vulnerability is highlighted further when Branko, a character involved in their stories, notices Mira’s condition. As their journey continues, they confront their past choices, revealing reasons for their encounters with Keller, and debate joining the Partisans—though Jovanka feels hesitant about getting involved in the conflict, preferring to avoid the war's chaos.
When Jovanka witnesses atrocities committed by German soldiers, her sense of outrage sparks a daring attack on a departing convoy, with Ljuba and others actively participating, resulting in the Germans’ retreat and their leader, Reinhardt, being captured by Ljuba. These women then decide to join Velko’s Partisan unit, although Jovanka is reluctant at first. Velko, played by Van Heflin, strictly enforces a policy against romantic entanglements among soldiers and civilians, fearing such relationships could jeopardize their safety—though Branko disobeys this rule by pursuing Daniza. Their breach of protocol leads to a showdown where Jovanka and Ljuba are sentenced to execution, shedding light on the harsh discipline within the resistance.
As the Partisans prepare to attack the town during a Nazi celebration commemorating the Third Reich’s tenth anniversary, the women are tasked with guarding Reinhardt. Several tense moments follow, including Mira going into labor and Ljuba assisting as a midwife, with Reinhardt revealing he was once a philosophy professor before the war—highlighting the loss of normalcy and education among the fighters. His admission that no Partisan is ever taken prisoner, but rather executed, underscores the brutal reality of their resistance: no mercy for enemies. When the Germans attempt to escape, Ljuba is forced to shoot him to prevent his rescue or return.
The climax involves a meticulously planned attack on the town, with Velko ordering Jovanka to retreat to ensure her safety. The attack results in a significant explosion of German officials, orchestrated by Milan, disguised in uniform, symbolizing the cunning and bravery of the Partisans. Their retreat is challenged when German forces pursue them up a mountain, but Velko stays behind in a desperate act to delay the enemy’s advance, while Jovanka refuses to abandon him. As they wait, Jovanka reflects on the ongoing cycle of violence, feeling despair over the impossibility of true peace, but Velko offers hope with the belief that people are capable of change—an optimistic closing note amid chaos.
This story captures the complexities of loyalty, sacrifice, and resilience during wartime, portraying the poignant and often tragic choices made by ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. It explores themes of resistance, personal loss, and the enduring human spirit, set against a backdrop of war’s brutality and the hope for eventual peace.
