Television Review: Zlato (Povratak otpisanih, S1X08, 1978)

Zlato (S01E08)

Airdate: 19 February 1978

Written by: Dragan Marković
Directed by: Aleksandar Đorđević

Running Time: 53 minutes

Povratak otpisanih remains a monumental achievement in the canon of Yugoslav television history, celebrated for its sharp writing, complex characters, and gritty depiction of the Second World War resistance in Belgrade. For the most part, the series maintained a consistently high quality throughout its run. However, even the most illustrious of television sagas are not immune to the inevitable dips in quality that accompany long production runs. While the majority of the series maintained a consistently high standard, the eighth episode, Zlato, stands out as a somewhat uninspired effort that looks distinctly like contractual season filler rather than a genuine contribution to the saga.

The episode is inherently transitional in nature, which is at least partially reflected in its technical presentation. The opening title sequence, which had remained consistent throughout the previous seven episodes, is altered to feature a montage of scenes from the last six instalments. This change visually signals a shift in narrative momentum, perhaps suggesting that the production team was preparing the audience for a thematic pivot. The overarching theme of the second part of the series is the imminent liberation of Belgrade, a fact that hangs over the narrative like a storm cloud. The title "Zlato" (Gold) serves as a thematic anchor point, providing a double entendre that refers both to the literal gold being moved by the occupying forces and the metaphorical value of the human lives caught in the crossfire.

The narrative kicks off with a cold open that immediately establishes the high stakes of the resistance effort. The scene is set in the city's main bank, where a vast amount of gold, alongside jewellery and other valuables, has been secured. The Germans, fully aware that they cannot hold the city indefinitely, have decided to evacuate the treasury to Germany. This operation is being meticulously supervised by Gestapo major Krieger. In contrast to the ranks of the Communist resistance, Stana, the leader of the group, provides a realistic assessment of the situation. She informs Prle and Tihi that the shipment is too well-guarded and that any attempt to stop the transport would have been suicidal and ultimately pointless.

This prudence, however, does not sit well with Prle, who is aghast with this kind of reasoning. In a series where Prle is usually portrayed as the more daring of the duo, this episode sees him succumbing to a level of impulsiveness that feels out of character. He decides to act on his own, disregarding the strategic counsel of his superiors. He recruits his network of street contacts, which includes an old acquaintance and possibly former girlfriend (Jelica Teslić). It is revealed that her father, Nikola Tršić (Mlađa Veselinović), is the bank manager. The old man is understandably unhappy with the situation and agrees to let Prle use his pass to impersonate him. Prle ventures into the bank to conduct a reconnaissance mission, only to see for himself that the security is impenetrable. Even someone with his considerable skill would fail.

Demoralised by this failed reconnaissance and later chastised by Tihi for his insubordination, Prle is forced to pivot to a different kind of operation. This shift coincides with Marija’s promotion from a Special Police clerk to the personal secretary of Bešević, the administrator of Belgrade. In her new role, she becomes privy to the collaborationist government’s codenamed "Operation Čarnojević." Named after a 17th-century patriarch, the plan involves selecting twenty-five of Serbia’s top artists, scientists, and intellectuals and relocating them, voluntarily or otherwise, to Germany.

Unlike the gold shipment, where the resistance leadership felt they couldn't intervene, the Communist Party leadership is keen to prevent this operation, viewing these individuals as the intellectual backbone of the nation. Prle, initially unhappy about having to use his street contacts to rescue what he views as "eggheads" and ivory tower intellectuals, reluctantly does his work well. Through his network, he manages to get most of the names on the list to go underground.

Bešević, however, proves to be an intelligent adversary. He quickly deduces that the resistance learned about the operation from within the regime's ranks, leading to the disappearance of the majority of his targets. Rather than focusing on finding the mole, he instructs his Special Police to set up ambushes, hoping that the resistance will attempt to spring the last seven names from the list. When these ambushes are spotted, Tihi is ordered to end the operation.

Yet, the personal stakes are raised when Joca learns that Doctor Lukić, a prominent surgeon played by Slavko Simić, is one of the names on the list. The doctor had previously saved the life of Joca’s wife, Lenče, creating a personal bond that supersedes protocol. Joca decides to act on his own again. He leaves Marija’s apartment ostensibly to "make a stroll," but in reality, he organises a complex escape evacuation for the surgeon with the help of a car mechanic named Žile. Meanwhile, Special Police agents led by Isa have the doctor’s apartment under surveillance and are about to arrest Joca. The timing is perilous, as this happens shortly before Joca’s regular radio transmission, leaving everyone in the apartment concerned. In a twist of fate, Prle realises what Joca is attempting just in the last minute. He rushes to Dr. Lukić’s apartment and helps his friend escape. Joca returns to the apartment just in time to make the transmission, and Prle covers for him, lying that the middle-aged radio operator succumbed to the need for female companionship.

On paper, Zlato was a solid premise with a strong, almost didactic point about the relative value of material wealth versus human life. The conflict between the Germans' focus on gold and the Partisans' focus on people serves as a compelling metaphor for the broader war. However, the execution is hampered by a significant issue regarding the character of Prle. While Prle has always been more daring than Tihi and has occasionally acted on his own, he is usually portrayed as a street-savvy veteran who knows when to strike. In this episode, he displays incredible levels of stupidity and almost hubristic greed, something quite unexpected from his established persona. It feels jarring to see a seasoned operator make such tactical errors, essentially gambling with lives without proper preparation.

The only redeeming aspect of the episode is Prle’s eventual redemption. He does see the errors of his ways and helps his friend, even to the point of lying to his superiors to protect him. This character arc saves the episode from being a total disaster, but it cannot fully mask the clumsiness that precedes it. Furthermore, the episode suffers from inconsistent direction by Aleksandar Đorđević, who usually delivers a polished product. Here, he seems to be experimenting with handheld cameras, a technique that often adds a sense of realism but in this context feels amateurish and disjointed. The end of the episode features a shootout with Special Police agents, again serving as "redshirt" characters who die just to demonstrate the danger, but the mechanics of it do not make sense. It does not show how Joca, a middle-aged man in not the best of physical shape, managed to run from trouble so effortlessly.

While the episode is generally watchable due to the chemistry of the cast and a few semi-humorous lines of dialogue, Zlato represents arguably the worst episode of the series. It lacks the tight pacing and coherent character logic that defined the show's peak moments, serving instead as a transitional bridge that fails to inspire.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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