In the divided town of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a once renowned National Monument and cemetery honouring young WWII partisan fighters is being destroyed by neo-fascist forces.
While most of the town dismiss it as a relic of communism and an enemy monument, a small group of determined relatives embark on a poignant quest to preserve their loved ones’ memories amid the ruins.
The Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina, built between 1959 and 1965, stands as a powerful symbol of resistance and sacrifice. Designed by renowned architect Bogdan Bogdanović, the cemetery commemorates the Yugoslav Partisans who fought against the Independent State of Croatia, a Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy puppet state during World War II. Once a revered National Monument of Bosnia & Herzegovina, this site now reflects the scars of history and neglect.
Decades of abandonment have left the cemetery in ruin. Vandalized with swastikas and far-right graffiti, it is no longer the dignified memorial it was meant to be. Locals often view it as a gathering spot for drug users and drinkers, overshadowed by decay. The most shocking act of desecration occurred in June 2022, when vandals shattered most of the 700 stone flowers—each bearing the name of an anti-fascist fighter—with sledgehammers. Despite the severity of the crime, no witnesses came forward, and no one has been held accountable.
The cemetery’s legacy is deeply contested. Many locals, political leaders, and the Catholic Church dismiss it as a relic of communism, denying its status as a cemetery and questioning its relevance. For others, however, it is sacred ground—a monument to anti-fascism, a symbol of resistance, and a place of personal grief for families whose loved ones are remembered there.
Sixty years after its opening, the cemetery has become an ideological battleground, mirroring Europe’s broader struggles with rising right-wing sentiment and historical revisionism. Its original purpose and message are increasingly obscured, making it one of Europe’s most endangered heritage sites today.
This documentary delves into the origins and design of the cemetery in 1960s Mostar, featuring Bogdan Bogdanović’s rarely seen original sketches and archive footage. Through a series of in-depth interviews and immersive visuals, the film weaves a narrative that connects past and present. Historians, architects, and cultural heritage experts provide crucial insights into the site’s historical and cultural significance, while touching on the larger context of Mostar’s divisions 30 years after the Bosnian War. Dissenting voices also weigh in, questioning the cemetery’s relevance, ownership, and the legitimacy of its designation as a burial site.
At the heart of the documentary are the personal stories of families returning to the cemetery after decades. Their deeply emotional journeys, as they search through the rubble for the plaques commemorating their loved ones, bring the human dimension of the site’s history into sharp focus. These moments of grief, resilience, and remembrance serve as poignant reminders of the universal need for closure and the enduring struggle to preserve memory amidst erasure.
Filmed in real time, this documentary is a compelling exploration of the Partisan Memorial Cemetery—a site where the past and present collide, and where the fight to preserve history continues in the face of rising division and neglect.