Some stories from wartime history live in the shadows for far too long, waiting for a film like Heroes of Halyard to bring them into the light. With a focus on Operation Halyard, the largest rescue mission of downed Allied airmen behind enemy lines; this Serbian war drama takes a lesser-known WWII event and turns it into a deeply human story of sacrifice, fractured loyalties, and quiet bravery.
Directed by and starring Radoš Bajić, the film centres on the Jović family, where three brothers find themselves on opposite sides of a war tearing their country apart. One joins the Royal Yugoslav Army, another the Communist Partisans, and the third is caught between duty and survival. Their conflict mirrors the political chaos of Yugoslavia in 1944, and the emotional fallout is just as devastating as the physical war surrounding them.
Rather than going for a big, bombastic war epic, Heroes of Halyard keeps its scope grounded and personal. The heroism on display isn’t about flashy victories or blood-pumping action scenes. It’s about ordinary people, farmers, mothers, and sons, risking their lives to protect strangers. The villagers who hide and aid the stranded American pilots don’t do it for glory. They do it because it’s the right thing to do. That moral clarity, in the middle of such a complicated war, is what gives the film its power.
Snimanje serije “Heroji Halijarda”, Rezija: Rados Bajic, Direktor fotografije: Predrag Jocic, Contrast Studios
Beograd, 17.06.2022.
foto: Srdjan StevanovicStarsportphoto ©
“…focused on the largest rescue mission of downed Allied airmen behind enemy lines…”
Visually, the film is impressive. The Serbian countryside is both breathtaking and brutal, shot in a way that enhances the tension while honouring the real-life events. Whether we’re in the middle of a raid or watching a hushed conversation unfold in candlelight, the cinematography feels authentic, never over-stylized or showy.
The ensemble cast is strong across the board. Žarko Laušević brings a steady, understated presence to Kosta Jović, the father trying to hold his family together as it fractures along ideological lines. Nikola Rakočević and Petar Božović add emotional weight, while Radovan Vujović stands out as the commanding and conflicted Zvonimir Vučković. A romance between a local woman and an American pilot (Steven William Moore) adds a human element, even if it leans into melodrama. Still, it grounds the stakes in something personal, where the film is at its best.
Pacing could use some tightening, especially in the second act, where the film juggles multiple storylines and risks losing focus. But the core message never gets lost, and the payoff is worth the patience. It’s clear the filmmakers care deeply about the history they’re telling, and that sincerity comes through in nearly every frame.
Heroes of Halyard is less about the chaos of war and more about the people trying to survive it with their humanity intact. It’s a quiet, often moving tribute to the courage of villagers whose actions saved hundreds of lives, without fanfare, without recognition, and until now, without much cinematic attention. If you’re a fan of war films that go beyond the battlefield, this one’s worth a look. It reminds us that even in the darkest times, there are still people willing to do what’s right, no matter the cost.
"…Heroes of Halyard doesn’t glorify war, it honours the humanity that survives it."
