The Border Post

In the midst of the serene landscape along the Yugoslav-Albanian border, an unsettling atmosphere envelops a military border post, where its commander, Safet Pašić (played by …), harbors a grave secret. The shocking discovery that he has contracted syphilis from a local prostitute sends ripples of turmoil through his existence, compelling him to devise a desperate scheme to hide his indiscretion from his wife, Mirjana.

As Commander Pašić races against time to finish a three-week course of penicillin, he orders his doctor, Siniša, to covertly relocate his belongings from their home to the barracks, all while ensuring that Mirjana remains oblivious to the truth. During this covert operation, Siniša encounters Pašić’s increasingly frustrated wife, who has grown disenchanted with her husband’s military life. Their chance meeting ignites a passionate yet illicit affair, driven by their mutual desperation and the looming uncertainty of their lives.

Within the confines of the post, tensions brew among the soldiers. One soldier, Ljuba Paunović, finds himself engaging in a string of mischievous antics in a bid to secure an early discharge from service. His reckless behavior causes friction with Pašić, who is already burdened by the weight of his concealed shame.

In a moment meant to honor the legacy of former President Josip Broz Tito, Paunović volunteers for an arduous 300-kilometer march from the barracks to the House of Flowers in Belgrade. However, this act of devotion is met with skepticism from the high command, which chooses to reprimand Pašić for perceived manipulation. As a result, a troop of soldiers is dispatched to apprehend him, with Mirjana unexpectedly joining their ranks, fueled by a nagging curiosity regarding her husband’s true situation.

As the sentinels at the border post mistakenly identify the approaching military vehicles as a forthcoming Albanian assault, they erupt in gunfire. In the ensuing chaos, Mirjana tragically loses her life, while the confrontation between Paunović and Pašić spirals into a violent clash, culminating in the commander’s death.

The film draws to a close as Siniša returns home, his face etched with the trauma of all he has witnessed. This poignant ending underscores the intertwining fates of the characters, forever marked by the tragic repercussions of human desperation and betrayal.

Last Updated: November 18, 2024 at 21:20