Archives for June 7th, 2007

A compelling Tito documentary by Janja Glagovac and RTV Slovenia.

I found this documentary to be pretty riveting and despite severe restrictions on my time watched the entire thing. Please note that it has English subtitles throughout, which is great. Here’s a quick run-down of what the film deals with:

* Tito’s death
* Tito’s toxicology team
* Tito’s awesome wardrobe
* The Queen’s visit (including a waltz with Tito)
* Tito’s visits abroad (including a scene where he speaks English at a press conference with Kennedy)
* Tito’s self-destructive eating habits (Veal or chicken for breakfast?? The money quote: “Everything had to be greasy.”)
* To the waiter who once spilled food on him: “What are you waiting for, you put some on my back now put some on my plate so I can eat.”
* A Slovenian veteran talks about the famous Raid on Drvar attempt to capture Tito during WWII.
* Tito’s awesome wardrobe again (Camel-hair underwear??)
* His meeting with Khrushchev (includes a funny story about Tito paddling him with a billiard stick)
* A bit about Jovanka, his ill-fated wife
* His death

I did feel like a few things were missing. The film kind of grazes over some formative events. I’d like to know more, for example, about his time in Russia, as well as the power struggles of the post-war period, his legendary womanizing, his break with Stalin, his suppression of dissent, and perhaps more about the man himself. I suppose it should have been longer.

Maybe there’s a director’s cut?

(Via the new and promising Vunzvraga)