Die Rote Zora (2008)

1930s: After his mother’s death, young Branko wanders the countryside in search of his father, because he wants to become a violinist like him. In Senj, a small town on the Croatian coast, he finds a hotel where his father once performed and accidentally overhears Mayor Iveković and the wealthy fish merchant Karaman plotting to drive the local fishermen into poverty and secure Karaman a monopoly on fresh fish. When Karaman realizes they have been overheard, he has Branko arrested for a trivial theft. Although Gorian, the fisherman who was supposedly robbed, speaks up for him, Branko is put in jail. A little later, however, the red-haired Zora frees him and takes him into her gang of orphans, who live in the ruins of a castle. Because they are poor, they have to steal food to survive, which is why they are pursued as criminals. The gang members (Zora, Branko, Pavle, Nikola, and Đuro) call themselves the Uskoks and see themselves as underground fighters for justice. When they come to the aid of a farm boy who has been robbed by “the high-school students” (children from the upper middle class), a fight breaks out. One of the students pulls a knife and seriously injures Pavle. Zora forces Karaman’s son, whom they have captured, to strip down to his underwear so they can make a stretcher. The gang carries Pavle to their hideout, but Karaman’s son follows them and reveals the hideout to his father. That night, the Uskoks escape through a secret passage just in time to evade the police and Karaman. Since Pavle needs help, they turn to the fisherman Gorian. He takes them in and treats Pavle’s injury using the remedies he knows. In return, the Uskoks enthusiastically help the old Gorian with fishing. Branko, however, wants above all to learn to play the violin, and secretly gets in touch with Zlata, the mayor’s daughter, impressed by her playing. He visits her at home, and she teaches him. When Gorian and the Uskoks make a rich tuna catch, Karaman uses his market power to prevent Gorian from selling his fish, in an effort to ruin his last remaining competitor. Only when Gorian threatens to release the fish he has caught does Karaman offer a fair price, on the condition that, as usual, the biggest fish be given to the mayor. During this scene, the Uskoks, hiding at Gorian’s, are almost given away by Karaman’s dog, which they had previously treated kindly; but Karaman simply shoots the dog when it refuses to obey him. Gorian divides the money he receives equally among the Uskoks, much to their surprise. A conflict has been brewing in the gang for some time: Đuro is in love with Zora, Zora is in love with Branko, and Branko has eyes only for Zlata. Zora uses her share to buy a dress to please Branko. But he would rather swim to the beach where Zlata is bathing. Đuro believes Branko intends to betray the Uskoks to Zlata and swims after him, but is attacked in the water by a giant octopus. Branko saves him at the risk of his own life. This brings the gang back together. Gorian tells the Uskoks that, instead of the fish, they should give the mayor a dead dog—it used to be customary when the mayor could no longer be trusted. The Uskoks secretly swap the gift fish for the dog Karaman shot, making the mayor the target of widespread laughter at his birthday party. Zlata suspects that the gang of Red Zora is behind this humiliation. She confronts Branko in her room and tells him that his father was also a thief and ran off with the chapel’s money, and that Branko himself is no better. She locks him in and fetches the police. Zora overhears the first part of the conversation, now believes Branko is a traitor too, and would rather turn herself in. Only when Zlata’s betrayal reveals to her that Branko is actually on their side does she free him from the room; but the two of them are spotted by the police and arrested, and the other Uskoks are arrested soon afterward. At the trial, under Karaman’s influence, the mayor demands three years in prison, including for Gorian, because he sheltered the Uskoks. In his defense speech, Gorian addresses the townspeople directly and points to the reasons behind the thefts: he has found the Uskoks hardworking and decent, and a society that forces orphaned children to steal is the one that ought to be in the dock. His speech is heard, and after this defeat Karaman angrily leaves town. The children are acquitted and taken in by local families. Zlata leaves the village to study.