The forgotten history of the Croatian city of Rijeka is brought back to life in the latest film by Igor Bezinović. The filmmaker invites hundreds of locals to participate in a city-wide documentary about proto-fascist Italian general Gabriele D’Annunzio’s 1919 occupation of the city, then known in Italian as Fiume. Fiume o morte! blends creative reenactments with personal stories and reflexive moments about the filmmaking process. Archival footage is explored in a playful way that is nonetheless sobering, while contemporary footage of the soccer rivalry between Rijeka and the nearby city of Split underscores current tensions. Bezinović’s bold and visionary approach makes a neglected historical moment feel alive and captures its absurdity in a way that is incredibly timely. Winner of the Tiger Award at the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam, this screening is the Toronto Premiere.

KAZIK RADWANSKI