GOODBYE VALTER: Bata Zivojinovic passed away!

Velimir Bata Zivojinovic, one of the greatest actors in our region, passed away last night in Belgrade (83), in the "Sveti Save" hospital after long and difficult illness. 

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There is only one word that can describe Bata - Legend. Only he could take down a German airplane with a single bullet. He dazzled the Chinese people with his movie "Valter defends Sarajevo" for all times. It is told that he killed more Germans than all of the Partizans combined. 

Only he could hold a bayonet with his bare hands, and not utter a single voice, to scold Stefica Cvek, to dry out a fountain, to cure the barren...

No matter if he played a part of a butcher, Partizan commander, a priest, police inspector or a simple man, Bata's roles marked Yugoslavian after war cinematography, and his movie lines will be retold forever. 

Printskrin: Youtube/GeronimoMediaTV

Zivojinovic was born on 05. June 1933. in Koracici, little village in the foot of Kosmaj. As a high school boy he worked as a scene worked, sometimes as an extra in Academic Theater in Belgrade, and after he graduated from High school for Acting, he enlisted for Academic Theater  in Belgrade in his third try. He played in Belgrade dramatic theater for ten years, however, he became a star thanks to the roles on the big screen. 

Foto: E-Stock.us

His movie debut was in 1955. in the "Song for  Kumbare" directed by Rados Novakovic, and his first more serious roles in movies "Train without a schedule" (1959) and "War" directed by Veljko Bulatic, with whom he will cooperate in many decades to come.  For his roles in "Kozara"(1962), "Three" (1965), "Feathers collectors" (1967), "The Master and the Margarita" (1972), he was awarded with Golden Arena in Pula, for the "Moment" ( 1978) he won the award on the movie festival in Moscow. He was also rewarded in festivals in Nis and on Palic, and just how popular he is in China the fact speaks for it self, he got his own beer "Valter".

Printskrin: Youtube/Град Београд

Bata made over 340 movies and series in his career. and its hard to mention all of his roles, so in one occasion he modestly said that most of his parts are not worth mentioning, but the time said otherwise. It's enough to mention "Battle on Neretva", "Partizan Squadron", "In the mouth of life", "Sugar and water", "Balkan Express", "How Rock and Roll died", "Igman March", "Naive", "Bridge", TV series "Gray home", "Citizens of  Lug vilage", "Talks from the workshop", "Better life", "Happy people"... 

Printskrin: RTS

Bata was active in politics. After the introducing of multi party system in Serbia in 1990. he was chosen for a parliament member in Serbian Parliament. From the beggining he was engaged in Socialistic Party of Serbia, and in 2002. was a canditat for the president of Serbia. But, however, because of the decision of Slobodan Milosevic to support Vojislav Seselj, he received only 120.000 votes.

Printskrin: Instagram/batazivojinovic

Bata left behind him his wife Julijana, son Miljko, daughter Jelena and 6 grandchildren.

(Telegraf.co.uk)