FILMING OF HISTORICAL DRAMA ABOUT DOCTOR LAZIĆ TO BEGIN ON AUGUST 16 AT KOVILJ MONASTERY

BELGRADE, AUGUST 12 /SRNA/ – The filming of the historical drama — a feature film and television series titled Line, inspired by motifs from the Diary of a War Surgeon by Dr. Miodrag Lazić — will begin on Saturday, August 16, at the Kovilj Monastery, the production announced.

This anti-war drama will be filmed at over 30 locations in Serbia and Republika Srpska. It tells the story of the humanity and self-sacrifice of Dr. Lazić at the Žica war hospital, who volunteered to go to the Sarajevo battlefield to help save the wounded. He initially planned to stay for a few months but remained until the end of the war, saving wounded lives regardless of their religion or nationality. With his arrival, the mortality rate of the wounded was reduced by 90 percent. In less than four years, he performed more than 3,600 surgeries and became a national hero and record holder for the number of surgical procedures, for which he received recognition from the World Health Organization. In a statement signed by the film’s producer Goran Ikonić, it was noted that the intention is to portray through the character and deeds of Dr. Lazić a different face of Serbia that the world rarely has the chance to see — a face of dedication, humanity, and compassion. It was emphasized that in terms of production scale, the film will be one of the most complex projects ever made in domestic cinematography, featuring over 80 actors, 2,200 extras, use of wartime equipment, and involvement of soldiers and police officers. The cast is primarily from Republika Srpska, then Serbia, the USA, and France. The film is expected to be completed by the first half of September 2026, with the premiere scheduled for September 15, 2026, on the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom, and the National Flag in East Novo Sarajevo, followed by screenings at the Sava Center in Belgrade on September 16 and in Niš on September 17. The film has been supported by state institutions of Serbia and Republika Srpska, numerous cities and municipalities, the Serbian diaspora, businesses, and prominent entrepreneurs.