A wartime Bosnian village is divided between communist Partisans and royalist Chetniks, with Španac and Miloš Radekić personifying the struggle.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
War Reaches the Mountains
The story introduces a Bosnian Serb village during World War II. The Axis invasion and subsequent occupation place the community under intense historical pressure.
Key Events
Bosnian Mountain Village — The story is set in a Bosnian Serb mountain village. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: A village in the mountains of Bosnia
World War II Setting — The village community exists during World War II. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: Bosnia
Axis Invasion — The Axis invasion brings the village into a wider wartime crisis. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: Bosnia
Occupation Begins — Occupation transforms the villagers' political and social circumstances. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: The occupied Bosnian village
A Village Splits in Two
The occupied villagers divide along royalist and communist ideological lines. This division creates the political foundation for the conflict between the Chetniks and the Partisans.
Key Events
Village Under Pressure — The villagers face pressure from war and competing political forces. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: The occupied mountain village
Ideological Division — The villagers divide along royalist and communist lines. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: The Bosnian Serb village
Partisan Position Emerges — Španac represents the communist Partisan position. Characters: ŠpanacLocation: The mountain village
Royalist Position Emerges — Radekić represents the royalist Chetnik position. Characters: Miloš RadekićLocation: The mountain village
Commanders of Opposing Causes
Španac emerges as the Partisan commander representing communist ideology. Miloš Radekić, a former Royal Army officer, leads the royalist faction and the resistance against the Partisans.
Key Events
Royalist Position Emerges — Radekić represents the royalist Chetnik position. Characters: Miloš RadekićLocation: The mountain village
Španac Takes Command — Španac's role as Partisan commander becomes central to the conflict. Characters: ŠpanacLocation: The occupied village
Radekić Leads Resistance — Radekić leads the villagers' resistance against the communist Partisans. Characters: Miloš RadekićLocation: The occupied village
New Ideology Challenged — Radekić becomes an obstacle to communist ideological acceptance. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: The divided village
The Ideological Showdown
Španac sees Radekić as the main obstacle to the villagers' acceptance of the new communist regime. Their opposition becomes the central expression of the village's broader political struggle.
Key Events
Commanders Confront Each Other — The opposing commanders personify the village's political struggle. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: The divided mountain village
Factional Conflict Escalates — The Partisan-Chetnik conflict intensifies around the villagers. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: The occupied village
Ideological Showdown — Španac and Radekić stand at the center of the ideological showdown. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: The Bosnian mountain village
Divided Community Endures — The village remains defined by the conflict between its opposing factions. Characters: Španac, Miloš RadekićLocation: The village in occupied Bosnia
Story Breakdown
Mountain Village Setting — The narrative begins in a Bosnian Serb village located in the mountains of Bosnia.
Bosnian Community — The village provides the central social setting for the conflict.
Wartime Background — The story takes place during World War II.
Axis Invasion — The Axis invasion and occupation expose the village to a larger military and political crisis.
Invasion Arrives — The village becomes involved in the consequences of the Axis invasion.
Occupation Follows — Subsequent occupation changes the conditions facing the villagers.
Village Division — The villagers split along two opposing ideological lines.
Royalist Camp — The royalist Chetnik position is represented by Miloš Radekić.
Communist Camp — The communist Partisan position is represented by Španac.
Španac's Cause — Španac commands the Partisans and represents the new communist ideology.
Partisan Commander — Španac's military role places him at the center of the communist faction.
New Regime — He seeks acceptance of the new communist regime among the villagers.
Radekić's Resistance — Miloš Radekić uses his former Royal Army identity to lead the royalist resistance.
Former Officer — Radekić is identified as a former Royal Army officer.
Chetnik Leadership — He leads the royalist Chetnik faction and the villagers' resistance.
Competing Authority — The two commanders struggle over political influence and authority within the divided village.
Obstacle to Change — Španac regards Radekić as the primary obstacle to communist acceptance.
Resistance to Partisans — Radekić's faction opposes the communist Partisans represented by Španac.
Central Ideological Conflict — The personal conflict between Španac and Radekić expresses the wider struggle between communist and royalist forces.
Partisan-Chetnik Struggle — Their opposing factions divide the village into competing political camps.
Village Under Strain — The community becomes the main arena for the ideological confrontation.
Wartime Resolution — The story's central dramatic force remains the unresolved tension created by the village's opposing ideological loyalties.
Opposing Commanders — Španac and Radekić remain the defining figures of the conflict.
Divided Community — The village's division provides the concluding image of the broader struggle.
Silent Gunpowder (Serbo-Croatian: Gluvi barut) is a Yugoslavian war film Based on a novel by Branko Ćopić and set during World War II, the film tells the story of a Serbian village in the mountains of Bosnia and its villagers who found themselves divided along two opposing ideological lines, represented by the Chetniks and the Partisans. These two opposing sides are personified in the Partisan commander Španac and a former Royal Army officer Radekić. Španac sees Radekić as the cause of villagers' resistance to the new, Communist, ideology and so the main plot axis is the conflict between them. At the 1990 Pula Film Festival, the film won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film, as well as the awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Branislav Lečić), Best Film Score (Goran Bregović). The film was also shown at the 1991 Moscow International Film Festival, where both Branislav Lečić and Mustafa Nadarević won the Silver St. George Award for their performances.
