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.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – On Distant Shores (1958)

Trace every key event in On Distant Shores (1958) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Disguise and restaurant attack

Mihajlo disguises himself as a Wehrmacht officer and plans a daring terror act. He executes the attack in a restaurant filled with German officers, demonstrating his ability to infiltrate enemy circles. The operation marks him as a highly wanted guerrilla by the German forces.

Restaurant with German officers
2

Wounded by a spy and forced to wait

During the aftermath, Mihajlo is wounded by Carranti, a spy embedded within the guerrilla ranks. He spends time recovering and is sidelined from active operations for a period. In this quiet interval, he paints and dreams of returning to Baku after the war.

Guerilla hideout / hospital
3

New mission with Veselin and Anzhelika

While recuperating, Mihajlo plans and carries out another operation with Veselin and Anzhelika to secure a food supply from a wealthy Italian businessman. The trio coordinates ahead of the raid, showing their reliance on each other for survival. The mission reinforces their bond and shared dedication to the partisans.

Guerrilla camp
4

Anzhelika detained, information shared

During the operation, Anzhelika is detained by the Germans but she manages to pass crucial information to Mihajlo and Veselin. This intel guides their next moves and keeps the group effective under pressure. The act deepens the peril surrounding the trio.

German operation site
5

Movie theater bombing

Armed with the new intelligence, Mihajlo and Veselin execute a devastating mission: they explode a movie theater and kill hundreds of German officers. They narrowly escape the pursuing soldiers, but the operation devastates the German command structure. The theater becomes a symbol of retaliation for the guerrillas.

Movie theater
6

Close pursuit and the Kraus ruse

Germans intensify their search for Mihajlo, and he crosses paths with Major Schulz, who is suspicious of him. Mihajlo pretends to be Auguste Kraus, a poor painter, and even proves his artistic skill by creating a Schulz portrait. The ruse persuades Schulz to release him, buying Mihajlo more time.

Schulz's office
7

Escape interrupted; Veselin dies

As Mihajlo pretends to be a harmless painter, Veselin and Mihajlo are spotted and engaged by German soldiers. A brutal combat ensues, culminating in Veselin being mortally wounded and dying in Mihajlo's arms. The loss devastates Mihajlo and heightens his resolve for revenge.

Near Schulz's office
8

Anzhelika murdered

Back at the guerrilla camp, Mihajlo receives the devastating news that Anzhelika has been murdered by German forces. Her death intensifies Mihajlo's anger and fuels a desire for retaliatory violence against their enemies. The camp mourns while planning further acts of resistance.

Guerrilla camp
9

Revenge through targeted bombings

Mihajlo unleashes his vengeance by blowing up several hotels and facilities controlled by the Germans. The attacks destabilize German operations and demonstrate Mihajlo's willingness to strike at critical infrastructure. The campaign of destruction continues to widen the war between guerrillas and occupiers.

Various hotels and facilities
10

Carranti's demise and money

Mihajlo tracks down Carranti, the spy who betrayed him, and eliminates him. He then escapes with a suitcase of money, underscoring the high stakes and the personal nature of his guerrilla war. The money may fuel future operations or aid the resistance.

City/ outskirts
11

Village refuge and German pursuit

Mihajlo flees toward the village of Veselin's father, pursued by German soldiers. Schulz leads the German pursuit, and the locals prove loyal, refusing to betray Mihajlo. Mihajlo's escape plan relies on evading both men and locals alike, testing their limits and loyalties.

Veselin's father's village
12

Final confrontation and explosion

Mihajlo confronts Schulz in front of the village. Schulz discovers that Kraus and Mihajlo are the same person, and Mihajlo murders Schulz but is wounded by German fire. As he dies, he envisions returning to Baku, and a bomb on him detonates, killing the approaching soldiers in a final act of defiance.

Front of Schulz / village

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 08:59

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On Distant Shores Summary

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On Distant Shores Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in On Distant Shores

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