One of the most important Yugoslav and Serbian film authors, Puriša Đorđević, died today, November 23rd, in Belgrade, at the age of 99, the Association of Film Artists of Serbia announced.

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The celebrated director and screenwriter Mladomir Puriša Đorđević was born in Čačak, on St. George’s Day, May 6, 1924. He started working as a journalist in “Politika” daily in 1946, and the very next year he got a job in “Filmske Novosti” as an editor and director of short documentaries. During his film career, which lasted from 1947 to the present day, he recorded more than 50 short and feature films, some of which were shown at the world’s most prestigious film festivals, including those in Berlin and Venice.

At the beginning of his filmmaking career, Đorđević directed a series of short films, and during the 1950s and 1960s he shot the feature films “Municipal Child” (1953), “Two Grapes” (1955), “The First Citizen of a Small Town” (1961) and “Summer Is to Blame For Everything” (1961). In the second half of the 1960s, he achieved his greatest successes as a director, working on the world-famous openings “Girl” (1965), “Dream” (1966), “Morning” (1967) and “Afternoon” (1968).

“Girl” was in many respects a turning point in Đorđević’s career. In it, World War Two was shown using unconventional art film techniques at the time, and the role played by Milena Dravić in this production is considered anthological.

Đorđević looked at the Second World War through the prism of art film in his three following works, namely “Dream”, “Morning” and “Afternoon”. These four films make up a cycle that belongs to the so-called black wave, and are counted among the most significant Serbian and Yugoslav films. “Dream” was screened at the 17th International Film Festival in Berlin, and was awarded in Pula (“Silver Arena” for directing). “Morning” was screened at the 28th Venice Film Festival, and on that occasion Ljubiša Samardžić won the “Volpi” trophy for best actor, which was one of the greatest international achievements of Yugoslav cinematography. “Morning” was also awarded in Pula – Đorđević received the “Golden Arena” for directing.

The following films: “Cross Country” (1969), “Bicyclists” (1970), “Rain” (1972), “Pavle Pavlović” (1975) and “Coach” (1978). During the 1980s and 1990s, Đorđević filmed less frequently, and we should highlight the films “Scherzo” (1994) and “Tango Is a Sad Thought to Be Danced” (1997), for which he was awarded the first prize for the best screenplay at the Film Screenplay Festival in Vrnjačka Banja.

When in May 2021, at the 49th FEST, he received the “Belgrade Winner” award for his outstanding contribution to film art, Đorđević said:

“I was born in 1924 on St. George’s Day, in Čačak. Since then I have recorded many streets, many cities, many faces. I tried to express what I could and couldn’t do in my films. And don’t get angry with me, but I am shooting a new movie.”

At that time, he was filming the feature-length biographical documentary “Mister” about the poet Matija Bećković, which was screened at the Author’s Film Festival last November.

During the summer of this year, Puriša Đorđević filmed his comeback feature film, the adaptation of the acclaimed and beloved novel “Mouth Full of Earth” by Branimir Šćepanović, starring Radivoje Raša Bukvić and Sonja Kolačarić, which is currently in post-production.

The Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and Minister of Culture Maja Gojković sent a telegram of condolences to the family on the occasion of the death of director Mladomir Purisa Đorđević.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Culture and on my own behalf, I send you my sincere condolences. The news of the death of Puriša Đorđević, one of the true greats of Serbian and Yugoslav cinema, deeply shook not only fans of his films, but also all art lovers in general. His works, which today represent classics and cult achievements, left a shining mark in the history of Serbian cinematography and defined the framework of several genres. Đorđević was not only recognizable for his artistic and filmmaking, but we will also remember him for his warmth and cheerfulness.”