Television Review: Dvokrilac (Povratak otpisanih, S1X03, 1978)

Dvokrilac (S01E03)

Airdate: 15 January 1978

Written by: Dragan Marković
Directed by: Aleksandar Đorđević

Running Time: 54 minutes

The third episode of the sequel series Povratak otpisanih, titled "Dvokrilac" (Biplane), remains a focal point of debate amongst critics and historians alike. One of the most persistent criticisms levelled at the original series Otpisani and its sequel concerns the perceived disconnect between the on-screen narrative and the actual historical realities of Belgrade during the Nazi occupation. Detractors, particularly those within Serbian right-wing nationalist circles who champion the legacy of Draža Mihailović and the Chetnik movement, argue that the series functions largely as a continuation of Communist Yugoslav propaganda. They contend that the series sanitises the complexities of the resistance, presenting a simplistic narrative of inevitable Partisan victory that ignores the strategic realities of the era. In this context, Dvokrilac is frequently cited as a specific instance of historical falsification, where the series prioritises dramatic flair over factual accuracy to uphold its ideological agenda.

The title of the episode refers to a collaborationist agent working for the Special Police who operates under the codename "Dvokrilac". His mission is to infiltrate the Communist resistance by posing as a contact for young, naive youths eager to join the fight against the occupiers. The agent, played by Ivan Jagodić, works at a power plant alongside two such youths—Mali, played by Predrag Ejdus, and Žule, portrayed by Bogdan Diklić. Ratko successfully manipulates Mali into believing he has a legitimate connection to the Partisans, promising him transport to the resistance-controlled territory. Žule, however, proves more cautious and contacts his Uncle Mile, a fisherman tasked with marking German river mines. Mile then informs the seasoned Partisans Prle, Tihi, and Mrki about the situation. Despite this intervention, the plan fails; Mali is arrested by the Special Police and executed by the Gestapo. Subsequently, Žule is trailed and killed during his resistance arrest, and Uncle Mile is killed by the crew of a German patrol boat. This sequence constitutes the first three-quarters of the episode, presenting a classic spy thriller narrative with the motif of an agent provocateur, a structure heavily influenced by the 1972 Partisan classic Walter Defends Sarajevo.

The narrative shifts in the final quarter as the focus turns to a more tactical conflict involving German technology. Major Krieger, expressing his displeasure at the loss of his agents, reveals his confidence in a signal-tracking device brought from Greece that can locate the Partisans' radio station. Overhearing this conversation, Marija alerts the resistance group, who use a clever telephone trick to force Krsta Mišić to reveal "Dvokrilac's" identity. The agent is then captured and brought to an abandoned slaughterhouse. In a desperate bid to save his life, Dvokrilac divulges presence of the German signal-tracking lorry. However, he attempts to flee and slips to his death. The Partisans, now aware of the threat, launch an ambush on the German lorry. The operation is successful; the German crew is wiped out, and the device is destroyed. In a moment of dark triumph, Prle radios Major Krieger and taunts him, taking several tin cans from the lorry as trophies. The episode concludes with a candlelit supper meant to celebrate their victory, but the mood is abruptly soured when Prle discovers that the contents of the tin cans are actually motor oil rather than food.

While almost every episode of Povratak otpisanih has faced scrutiny for its historical liberties, Dvokrilac possesses one of the strongest elements of grounding in real events: the use of signal-tracking vans by the German military to locate resistance radio transmitters. However, the episode inverts the historical outcome. In reality, these operations, conducted in late 1942 and early 1943, were highly successful and targeted the Chetnik movement rather than the Partisans. By portraying a unsuccessful German operation against the Partisans, the episode arguably reinforces the communist narrative of Partisan superiority, a detail that staunch critics of the series find particularly galling.

The characterisation of Prle and Tihi in this episode leans heavily into the action hero archetype. They function almost as Rambo-like killing machines, capable of wiping out not just the Special Police agents but also the German signal team with ease. This excessive lethality makes the adversaries appear somewhat disposable, particularly when Mikula, one of Mišić's agents played by the renowned Dragomir Bojanić Gidra (known for his role as Kondor in Walter Defends Sarajevo), tries to console himself with drink after the death of his partners. The direction by Aleksandar Đorđević is generally competent, though the sequences set on the river, including the death of Uncle Mile, feel somewhat clunky and out of sync with the gritty urban realism of the rest of the episode.

Ultimately, the episode is rescued from being a purely derivative piece of propaganda by its ability to balance its grim subject matter with levity. Dvokrilac leverages the recurring theme of wartime privations, specifically Prle's frustration with eating "proja", a staple associated with poverty before the 1950s. The final scene, where the group is tricked into believing they will feast thanks to the German cans, serves as a poignant addition of levity. It provides a necessary breather from the tension, signalling to the audience that while the episode deals with serious themes, its content should not be taken too seriously and serves primarily as entertainment rather than a documentary.

RATING: 8/10 (+++)

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