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Playing Soldiers

Name: Playing Soldiers
Director: Bahrudin 'Bato' Čengić
Released: 1967
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

7.6/10

Good

1967

Director

Bahrudin 'Bato' Čengić

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Director Bahrudin 'Bato' Čengić employs a gritty, realistic style to challenge historical myths. The film successfully showcases a multi-ethnic resistance and overturns traditional gender roles, moving away from idealized state-approved heroism. However, the film lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities and specific physical or cognitive disabilities. The narrative focuses primarily on the collective experience of wartime trauma and moral complexity.

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Category Breakdown

Does Playing Soldiers have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film centers on the survival and psychological trauma of wartime orphans. It does not include any non-straight or transgender identities or stories involving LGBTQ+ individuals.

How does Playing Soldiers portray gender?

Good

Women are shown as strong, capable members of the resistance movement, challenging the stereotype of women as solely domestic figures. This portrayal gives female characters a prominent role in the story.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Playing Soldiers?

Good

The film highlights the diverse ethnic makeup of the Yugoslav resistance, showing how different ethnic groups worked together against a common enemy. It presents a nuanced view of ethnic blending and cooperation.

How does Playing Soldiers represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The movie emphasizes a collective, anti-fascist stance and questions traditional Western power structures. It avoids simple moral tales in favor of complex ethical situations.

Does Playing Soldiers include disability representation?

Fair

The film delves into the deep psychological wounds caused by war. However, it does not include characters with visible physical or cognitive disabilities as central subjects.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional gender roles by depicting women as active fighters and political leaders.
Offers a nuanced look at multi-ethnic cooperation within the Yugoslav resistance.
Uses a sophisticated, anti-fascist framework that avoids simplistic moral tales.

Limited or Absent

Does not include any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or stories involving queer characters.
Does not feature characters with specific physical or cognitive disabilities.
Focuses heavily on collective trauma rather than exploring individual identity.

Official Synopsis

After the end of WW2 a blonde boy arrives at an orphanage made for the children of Partizans or people being killed in the war. The headmaster knows that the boy's parents were Nazis but conceals that fact from others, fearing violence by vengeful children. He invents the boy's life story, but the other children get suspicious.

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