On Distant Shores

On Distant Shores

Year: 1958

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: Azerbaijani

Director: Tofig Taghizadeh

WarDramaAction

The film dramatizes the wartime exploits of Azerbaijani guerrilla Mehdi Huseynzadeh, a celebrated figure of World War II, depicting his resistance against Nazi forces across what is now Italy and Slovenia. The title references the distant Adriatic shores where his actions unfolded.

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Timeline & Setting – On Distant Shores (1958)

Explore the full timeline and setting of On Distant Shores (1958). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

World War II era

Set during the height of World War II, with German occupation sweeping across the Balkans and northern Italy. Partisans plot attacks to disrupt supply lines, while collaborators and spies threaten the resistance. The period is defined by clandestine operations, reprisals, and the struggle for survival.

Location

Yugoslavia, Trieste

The story unfolds in WWII-occupied Yugoslavia with episodes in Trieste, where partisan groups operate in secrecy and German forces hold tight control. The setting alternates between urban centers hosting German officers and backcountry camps where rebels plan daring strikes. The landscape reflects a zone of constant danger, sacrifice, and underground resistance.

🪖 War in the Balkans 🏰 German Occupation 🎭 Espionage & Resistance

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:50

Main Characters – On Distant Shores (1958)

Meet the key characters of On Distant Shores (1958), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mehdi Huseynzade a.k.a. Mihajlo

A fearless guerrilla leader who infiltrates German ranks with disguises and carries out daring operations. He is strategic, resourceful, and driven by the partisan cause, while also harboring a longing to return home. His actions are bold but carry personal costs as the war intensifies.

🪖 Guerrilla commander 🕴️ Disguise expert 💔 Romantic tension

Veselin

Mihajlo’s loyal ally and combat partner, a bold and devoted partisan whose friendship anchors their missions. He fights fiercely but is mortal, dying in Mihajlo’s arms during a pivotal moment.

🛡️ Loyal ally ⚔️ Warrior 💔 Tragic fate

Anjelika / Anzhelika

A young, courageous figure who acts as a courier and conscience in the resistance. She passes vital information under pressure and remains caught in a love triangle with Mihajlo.

🎀 Female ally 💌 Information courier 💕 Love triangle

Major Schulz

A suspicious German officer who relentlessly hunts Mihajlo. Their confrontation showcases the cat-and-mouse chase between occupiers and partisans, culminating in a deadly clash.

🎖️ Opponent 🔎 Suspicion ⚔️ Final confrontation

Carranti

An infiltrating spy who dances between loyalty and betrayal within the guerrilla camp. Mihajlo ultimately confronts and eliminates him to protect the mission and its money.

🕵️‍♂️ Spy 💣 Betrayal 🗡️ Retaliation

Ferrero

An Italian businessman who becomes a key figure in securing food and resources for the partisans, illustrating the broader network of wartime support.

💼 Italian businessman 🍝 Resourceful 🛢️ Supply lines

Veselin's Father

A protective elder in the village who shelters Mihajlo and offers quiet support. His home acts as a waypoint in the guerrilla movement, illustrating community risk and courage.

🏡 Village elder 🛡️ Shelter provider 🌾 Community resilience

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:50

Major Themes – On Distant Shores (1958)

Explore the central themes of On Distant Shores (1958), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪖 Guerrilla Warfare

A central thread is the relentless guerrilla campaign waged by Mihajlo and his allies. They improvise, disguise, and strike deep behind enemy lines to disrupt the German war machine and supply chains.

💔 Love & Betrayal

A love triangle forms among Mihajlo, Veselin, and Anzhelika, intertwining personal desire with high-stakes operations. Affection complicates decisions and magnifies the cost of every action.

🕵️‍♂️ Deception & Espionage

Disguises and misdirection are used to outwit German officers, while the spy Carranti infiltrates the guerrilla camp. Truth is often ambiguous, and loyalty is tested by secrets.

⚔️ Sacrifice & Revenge

Friendships are strained to the breaking point as battles and betrayals mount. Key characters pay with their lives, fueling Mihajlo's drive for vengeance against the occupiers.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:50

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Tense and Tragic Partisan Resistance Movies like On Distant Shores

Gripping stories of underground fighters facing constant danger and personal loss.If you were gripped by the relentless tension and tragic sacrifice in On Distant Shores, explore more movies like it. This thread features war thrillers about undercover operatives and partisan fighters, characterized by fast pacing, high intensity, and bleak endings that honor the heavy emotional weight of resistance.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a dedicated fighter or small cell as they execute dangerous missions against a powerful occupier. The narrative is often linear and mission-driven, with personal tragedies—such as the loss of comrades or loved ones—transforming the protagonist's resolve from patriotic duty into a more personal, vengeful crusade, frequently ending in a sacrificial climax.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on clandestine warfare, a tense and somber tone, and a fast-paced structure built around sequential high-stakes operations. They create a cohesive experience of relentless pressure and profound loss, appealing to viewers who want immersive, high-intensity war dramas.

Bleak and Heavy War Character Studies like On Distant Shores

Intense character portraits where the psychological toll of war is paramount.For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight and bleak ending of On Distant Shores, this thread collects similar character-driven war dramas. Discover movies that explore the profound personal cost of conflict, featuring straightforward narratives with high intensity and a focus on sacrifice and loss.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern here is a straightforward descent, following a protagonist whose initial purpose is eroded by the horrors of war. The journey is marked by key personal losses that shift their motivation, leading to a final act defined by sacrifice. The story structure serves to highlight the character's internal collapse as much as the external conflict.

Why These Movies?

These films share a cohesive vibe defined by a heavy emotional weight, a bleak outlook, and a straightforward narrative that makes the tragic character arc intensely impactful. They are united by their unflinching focus on the human cost of war, rather than its grand strategy or heroism.

Unlock the Full Story of On Distant Shores

Don't stop at just watching — explore On Distant Shores in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what On Distant Shores is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

On Distant Shores Summary

Read a complete plot summary of On Distant Shores, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

On Distant Shores Summary

On Distant Shores Timeline

Track the full timeline of On Distant Shores with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

On Distant Shores Timeline

On Distant Shores Spoiler-Free Summary

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On Distant Shores Spoiler-Free Summary

More About On Distant Shores

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More About On Distant Shores

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