The work of DRAGUTIN POPOVIĆ
Dragutin Popović, a prolific cameraman for Filmske Novosti would mark the collaborations between Filmske Novosti and the non-aligned world by filming some of the earliest newsreels for Tanzania after the country won its independence, and most memorably, for his engagement in filming the struggle of Frelimo, the Mozambican Liberation Front.
Popović was born in 1932. Following the Second World War he enrolled in the officer's school and obtained his pilot's licence, advancing to the rank of captain. He would begin his career in Filmske Novosti in 1949, staying in the film studio until his retirement. In addition to filming importance political events for the weekly newsreels and documentary specials, he began missions to film in Africa within the framework of Yugoslav technical collaborations.
In 1960, Popović would join Stevan Labudović in Ghardimau on the border between Tunisia and Algeria to film the activities of the Algerian Liberation Army, and he would be part of a two-person team travelling from the border to Algiers in the summer of 1962 to record the final days of the struggle for independence.
In October 1964 Filmske novosti began their collaboration in the production of newsreels and documentary films with the Ministry of Information in Tanzania on the basis of a contract concluded between the Yugoslav and Tanzanian governments. A two-person team was sent to Dar es-Salaam: Miodrag Zdravkovic, to act as director of the newly-established Film Unit, and Dragutin Popović, as the cameraman who in addition to shooting Tanzanian newsreels instructed Tanzanian cameramen. Filmske novosti’s collection comprises 29 numbers of the Tanzanian filmed journals Habari, filmed mostly by Popović, but also by Tanzanian cameramen such as K. Bonnyface and S. Kaunga whom he trained (with Bonnyface eventually coming to Belgrade for specialization at Filmske novosti).
The years Dragutin Popović spent in Tanzania would lead to the creation of the Filmske novosti’s Mozambique collection, which comprises materials filmed in the period 1967 to 1986. As the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) was created in 1964 in Tanzania, Filmske novosti established contact with them in Dar es-Salaam. The time Dragutin Popović had spent shooting for the Tanzanian government had earned him sufficient trust to obtain permission to shoot in refugee camps and to cross the border into the north province of Cabo Delgado, which is how he became one of the first journalists to visit the Free Territory. From material shot by Popović in 1966, Filmske novosti made Venceremos (We Will Win), directed by Miodrag Zdravković, who had been at the head of the Film Unit in Tanzania. Shot on 35mm stock, it is the first documentary to be made about FRELIMO, tracing their struggle against colonial rule. The film shows how daily life was organized in the areas freed by FRELIMO, focusing on the military training of the “followers” and the way the guerrillas disseminated news in the areas controlled by anti-colonial forces. The film was completed in October 1967, and shown to both President Edward Mondlane and President Tito, and gifted to the Tanzanian government.
Popović became friends with FRELIMO’s leader Samora Machel, who as Secretary of the Defense Department organized visits for members of the press, researchers, and strategic guests to the camps and the liberated zones from the early stages of the struggle, as part of the external policy of the movement. As a result of this friendship, his cinematic collaboration with Mozambique continued after independence for a period of almost two decades (until Samora Machel’s death in 1986). The first film produced by the Information Ministry was filmed by Popović. The film, called The Mozambican People United from Rovuma to Maputo begins after the Lusaka treaty, and accompanies Samora Michel’s “triumphant and symbolic” journey from the Rovuma Riverwhich forms the border with Tanzania in the north—to Maputo, showing the future president meeting with people along the day. It also includes the Declaration of Independence of Mozambique on June 25, 1975. The same year Popović filmed Nachingwea, Intelligence and a Hand, a film about the Frelimo training camp in Tanzania during the armed struggle. Samora Machel would visit Popovic's family during a state visit to Yugoslavia, and in 1986 following Machel's death, Popović would attend his funeral.
Among his later works are Put partije (1969), Deveti kongres SKJ (1970) and Dalji razvoj Federacije ili putevi usavrsavanja Jugoslovenskog drustveno - Politickog sistema (1971). He died on 13 May 2005 in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.
Further reading:
Gray, Ros. 2020. Cinemas of the Mozambican Revolution: Anti-Colonialism, Independence and Internationalism in Filmmaking, 1968-1991.
Luque, Alba Martín. 2023. ‘We Have Made History’: Yugoslav Visual Solidarity with FRELIMO’s Struggle,1967–1975.
Vučetić, Radina. 2019. We Shall Win: Yugoslav Film Cooperation with FRELIMO
Popović was born in 1932. Following the Second World War he enrolled in the officer's school and obtained his pilot's licence, advancing to the rank of captain. He would begin his career in Filmske Novosti in 1949, staying in the film studio until his retirement. In addition to filming importance political events for the weekly newsreels and documentary specials, he began missions to film in Africa within the framework of Yugoslav technical collaborations.
In 1960, Popović would join Stevan Labudović in Ghardimau on the border between Tunisia and Algeria to film the activities of the Algerian Liberation Army, and he would be part of a two-person team travelling from the border to Algiers in the summer of 1962 to record the final days of the struggle for independence.
In October 1964 Filmske novosti began their collaboration in the production of newsreels and documentary films with the Ministry of Information in Tanzania on the basis of a contract concluded between the Yugoslav and Tanzanian governments. A two-person team was sent to Dar es-Salaam: Miodrag Zdravkovic, to act as director of the newly-established Film Unit, and Dragutin Popović, as the cameraman who in addition to shooting Tanzanian newsreels instructed Tanzanian cameramen. Filmske novosti’s collection comprises 29 numbers of the Tanzanian filmed journals Habari, filmed mostly by Popović, but also by Tanzanian cameramen such as K. Bonnyface and S. Kaunga whom he trained (with Bonnyface eventually coming to Belgrade for specialization at Filmske novosti).
The years Dragutin Popović spent in Tanzania would lead to the creation of the Filmske novosti’s Mozambique collection, which comprises materials filmed in the period 1967 to 1986. As the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) was created in 1964 in Tanzania, Filmske novosti established contact with them in Dar es-Salaam. The time Dragutin Popović had spent shooting for the Tanzanian government had earned him sufficient trust to obtain permission to shoot in refugee camps and to cross the border into the north province of Cabo Delgado, which is how he became one of the first journalists to visit the Free Territory. From material shot by Popović in 1966, Filmske novosti made Venceremos (We Will Win), directed by Miodrag Zdravković, who had been at the head of the Film Unit in Tanzania. Shot on 35mm stock, it is the first documentary to be made about FRELIMO, tracing their struggle against colonial rule. The film shows how daily life was organized in the areas freed by FRELIMO, focusing on the military training of the “followers” and the way the guerrillas disseminated news in the areas controlled by anti-colonial forces. The film was completed in October 1967, and shown to both President Edward Mondlane and President Tito, and gifted to the Tanzanian government.
Popović became friends with FRELIMO’s leader Samora Machel, who as Secretary of the Defense Department organized visits for members of the press, researchers, and strategic guests to the camps and the liberated zones from the early stages of the struggle, as part of the external policy of the movement. As a result of this friendship, his cinematic collaboration with Mozambique continued after independence for a period of almost two decades (until Samora Machel’s death in 1986). The first film produced by the Information Ministry was filmed by Popović. The film, called The Mozambican People United from Rovuma to Maputo begins after the Lusaka treaty, and accompanies Samora Michel’s “triumphant and symbolic” journey from the Rovuma Riverwhich forms the border with Tanzania in the north—to Maputo, showing the future president meeting with people along the day. It also includes the Declaration of Independence of Mozambique on June 25, 1975. The same year Popović filmed Nachingwea, Intelligence and a Hand, a film about the Frelimo training camp in Tanzania during the armed struggle. Samora Machel would visit Popovic's family during a state visit to Yugoslavia, and in 1986 following Machel's death, Popović would attend his funeral.
Among his later works are Put partije (1969), Deveti kongres SKJ (1970) and Dalji razvoj Federacije ili putevi usavrsavanja Jugoslovenskog drustveno - Politickog sistema (1971). He died on 13 May 2005 in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.
Further reading:
Gray, Ros. 2020. Cinemas of the Mozambican Revolution: Anti-Colonialism, Independence and Internationalism in Filmmaking, 1968-1991.
Luque, Alba Martín. 2023. ‘We Have Made History’: Yugoslav Visual Solidarity with FRELIMO’s Struggle,1967–1975.
Vučetić, Radina. 2019. We Shall Win: Yugoslav Film Cooperation with FRELIMO