On our own Land (1948)
Na svoji zemlji [SLV]

Set in the coastal region of Primorska (Slovene Littoral) in the context of the Second World War, the film depicts the Yugoslav partisans’ final efforts in the National Liberation Struggle. After Italy’s capitulation in 1943, the region falls under the occupation of the Germans, who are determined to clear the area from the partisan presence. But that will not be easy: not only because of the partisan resistance, but because the villagers, all Slovenians, are joining the partisans in hope to liberate the region from the foreign rule.

“On our own Land” is the first Yugoslav and thus also the first Slovenian film screened in the Cannes film festival (1949). Following this screening it was a part of various retrospectives, as well as the events organised to celebrate the anniversary of the film’s making (see for instance: 13. Festival Odmevi dediščine - 70 Years since the film On our Own Land, 2018 [SLV]). It has also been broadcast on Yugoslav and Slovenian television multiple times.

"On our own Land" is the most famous Slovenian film made in socialist Yugoslavia. As such, it was widely discussed in Yugoslav and Slovenian press, as evident from the press clipping safeguarded in the Slovenian Film Archives in Ljubljana and in Yugoslav Film Archives in Belgrade. A part of this material was shown to the public through the exhibition dedicated to France Štiglic [SLV] which was held in the Slovenska kinoteka in Ljubljana from 2021 to 2023. Among the projects aiming at preserving the memory of the film it is worth mentioning the website Tematska pot: Na svoji zemlji [Theme Path: On our Own Land], which provides documents and information about Baška Grapa [Bača Valley] the film’s main shooting location.

France Štiglic (1919–1993) was a Yugoslav and Slovenian film director and screenwriter. He received 10 awards and one nomination. His film The Ninth Circle (Deveti krug, Jadran film, 1960) was shortlisted for the Academy Award (Oscar) for the best foreign language film in 1960. For more, see one of the most complete publications about Štiglic, edited by Špela Čizman and Andrej Šprah “France Štiglic: Film Legacy [SLV]” (Ljubljana: Slovenska kinoteka, 2021).