Movies: Fiume o morte! (2025) by Igor Bezinović: A Grand Farce Recalled

History Reclaimed with a Smile A City's Absurd Past, Told by its People Fiume o morte! is a 2025 documentary film directed by Igor Bezinović that explores the bizarre history of Gabriele D'Annunzio's occupation of the city of Fiume (now Rijeka) in 1919. The film, which won 8 awards and received 2 nominations, is an unconventional blend of documentary and historical reenactment. Bezinović invites the current residents of Rijeka to participate in a "collective act of remembering," as they recount and act out the 16-month-long farce. The film features interviews with locals, asking if they know who D'Annunzio was, and then uses their participation to playfully reconstruct the events, highlighting the absurdity and lasting legacy of that period.

Why to recommend this movie: A Fresh Take on History The Past is Never Far Away

• An inventive and joyful docudrama: The film masterfully blends documentary interviews with staged reenactments. The playful nature of the local actors brings a surprising amount of humor and humanity to a dark historical episode. It is a unique approach that makes a complex historical topic accessible and engaging for a wide audience.

• A powerful act of reclamation: By giving the story back to the people of Rijeka, the film becomes an act of decolonization. It allows the city's residents to reclaim their history from a nationalist narrative, transforming it from a solemn historical event into a collective memory passed down through generations.

• Humor and history in harmony: The film uses humor and wit to address serious themes like nationalism and the dangers of extreme ideology. As one reviewer noted, the film is a "joyful history lesson" that proves that "laughing at fascists is a form of resistance."

Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/it/film/fiume-o-morte (Italy)

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/it/title/tt34383611/

Link Review: https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/fiume-o-morte-review-1236301450/

About movie: https://www.videomante.it/film/fiume-o-morte/

What is the Trend followed: Hybrid Docu-Dramas Blurring the Lines Between Fact and Fiction The film follows the growing trend of hybrid docu-dramas, which merge documentary techniques with fictionalized storytelling. This genre allows filmmakers to explore historical events and social issues in a creative and engaging way that goes beyond a traditional documentary format. By using real people to reenact historical events, the film creates a sense of authenticity while also allowing for satirical and humorous commentary.

Director's Vision: The Memory of a City Reclaiming a City's Narrative

• A collective memory: Igor Bezinović, a native of Rijeka, sought to revisit a piece of his city's history that is often overlooked in local schools. His vision was to create a "collective project" by involving the city's residents. He wanted to understand why the Italian side values D'Annunzio's avant-garde ideas, while the Croatian citizens of Rijeka view him only as a fascist.

• History as farce: The director’s clever insight is that the original archival photos of D'Annunzio and his legionaries are often more bizarre than the playful re-enactments by the locals. This highlights the inherent absurdity of the historical event and allows the film to mock and demystify the grandiose posturing of the nationalists.

Themes: Memory, Nationalism, and Identity History as a Reflection of the Present

• The legacy of nationalism: The film serves as a powerful reminder of how easily history can be turned into a monument, and how the seeds of nationalism and fascism planted in the past can resurface in the present.

• The power of collective memory: By having the people of Rijeka tell their own story, the film showcases how a community can reclaim its past and shape its own identity. The narrative is a collective act of remembrance that highlights the importance of oral tradition and local history.

• History as a tool of reclamation: The film uses the bizarre history of the occupation as a way for the city to "exorcise" a complicated past. By making the people who live there today the main protagonists, the film connects the past and present, showing how a community can deal with a traumatic past through humor and wit.

Key success factors: Authenticity and Humor From Local to Universal

• Authentic and engaging narration: The film is narrated by the residents of Rijeka in their local dialect, adding a unique layer of authenticity and warmth. The shifting narrators give the film a collective voice, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the city's identity.

• Perfect pacing and balance: The film maintains a great balance between humor and serious themes. It moves from playful reenactments to sober reflections without feeling disjointed, making the historical lesson both effortless and entertaining.

• A fresh perspective on a historical event: The film successfully deconstructs the myth of D'Annunzio's "Fiume Enterprise" and presents it as the reckless and destructive farce it was. This fresh take on a familiar historical figure makes the film relevant and engaging, especially in the context of rising nationalism.

Awards and Nominations: A Festival Sensation Fiume o morte! has been a major success on the festival circuit, winning 8 awards and receiving 2 nominations. The film was notably awarded the Tiger Award and the FIPRESCI Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025. It also received six Golden Arena awards at the 2025 Pula Film Festival, including awards for directing, costumes, and casting. In addition, the film has been selected as the official submission of Croatia for the "Best International Feature Film" at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026.

Critics Reception: Witty, Inventive, and Politically Relevant An Irreverent Look at History

• Variety: The review from this site calls the film a "witty, resourceful hybrid" and "highly creative," praising its ability to playfully and critically engage with how the past is reframed.

• The Film Verdict: This critic describes the film as a "rigorously researched, irreverently punk re-enactment" and an "astute and politically trenchant intervention."

• Screen Daily: This site’s review highlights the film's "inventive" approach to re-enacting the occupation, noting that it is a "timely reminder that laughing at fascists is a form of resistance."

Overall, critics have widely praised Fiume o morte! for its inventive and unconventional approach to history. They have lauded its humor, its political relevance, and its ability to turn a dark historical event into a joyful and accessible lesson, earning it a stellar Metacritic score of 81.

Reviews: An Unconventional Gem The People's History

• vildandrpljanin94 (IMDb): This user review praises the film as a "joyful history lesson." The reviewer was captivated by the "blend of documentary and play-acting" and the way the film allows the locals to "reclaim its past without sanctimony." They also highlight the film's "hilarious and sobering" nature and its lasting message about how history can easily turn into monuments.

• chajanka (IMDb): This review calls the film a "most pleasantly surprising" watch. The reviewer was impressed by the film's "perfectly" blended documentary and drama elements, noting that the real archival footage is often "more bizarre and grotesque" than the playful reenactments. The reviewer praises the film's lack of pretentiousness and its important message in today's political climate.

Overall, user reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with an impressive average IMDb rating of 8.1 out of 10. Viewers loved the film's cleverness, humor, and ability to tell a serious story in an entertaining and unique way.

Movie Trend: The Hybrid Documentary The Past Reimagined Through the Present The film follows the growing trend of hybrid documentaries, which blur the lines between fiction and non-fiction. This genre allows filmmakers to explore complex historical events or social issues in an imaginative and engaging way that goes beyond a traditional documentary format. By using real people to reenact historical events, the film creates a sense of authenticity while also providing a fresh and satirical commentary on the subject matter.

Social Trend: Nationalism and Collective Memory A Timely Cautionary Tale The film is highly relevant to the social trend of a renewed dialogue on nationalism and collective memory. It uses a historical event to shed light on how nationalistic ideals and charismatic figures can influence society and how that influence can be carried through generations. By showing how the people of a city grapple with a contested piece of their history, the film highlights the power of a community to reclaim its own narrative and resist nationalistic fervor.

Final Verdict: A Masterpiece of Historical Storytelling Fiume o morte! is an extraordinary and essential film that sets a new standard for historical documentaries. Director Igor Bezinović's inventive approach, coupled with the authentic participation of the people of Rijeka, turns a peculiar historical episode into a hilarious, moving, and politically resonant lesson. It’s a powerful testament to the idea that history isn't just a list of facts but a living, breathing story that can be reclaimed and reinterpreted with wit and honesty.