At the Cultural and Multimedia Centre in Bjelovar, the premiere of the documentary We Remember You – Kusonje 1991 took place on Friday, 25 September, dedicated to one of the most tragic events at the start of the Homeland War and to Croatian defenders.
The film presents the story of the events in Kusonje in September 1991 through testimonies of participants, documents, and dramatic reconstructions. Some participants spoke publicly for the first time in 35 years about what they had experienced. The authors of the film are Marin Sabolić and Borna Marinić, and the documentary was made following a long-term investigation into the events in Kusonje.
The film seeks to present the circumstances in which Croatian defenders found themselves in an ambush, the multi-hour battle, and the fate of 18 defenders from Bjelovar. It also raises questions about events that have been discussed in different ways over the past 35 years. The authors used testimonies of participants, available documentation, and court records, with part of the story presented through dramatic reconstructions.
The production of the documentary took a year, while the research phase lasted four years. The court records include nearly 400 to 500 pages of files held at the County Court in Osijek. All of this had to be condensed into an approximately two-hour film.
Sabolić stated that the complete truth may never be established. All members perished, and no one managed to escape, while the court records tell different stories. Sabolić believes they came as close as possible to the truth, with the epilogue being the discovery of the mass grave. He noted that too much time has passed for different interpretations of this event, and that an institution should have handled this 35 years ago. They gathered relevant participants who were to speak about the event, and during the work, there were many discussions among the authors and collaborators themselves.
Borna Marinić said that the mystery of the event and the many questions left open for decades drew him to the project. He believes that many questions will be answered by this film. The film was produced by the agency of Tibor Javurek. The authors plan to show the film in other locations after Bjelovar, hoping that Croatian Radiotelevision will recognise the film and offer to acquire it. After Bjelovar, they will move through the wider Bjelovar-Bilogora County, and then more broadly. The Virovitica-Podravina County and its cities are already showing interest.
Andrea Posarić is the daughter of one of the fallen defenders. When her father died in Kusonje, Andrea Posarić was only seven years old, and her younger sister was only three months old. She said that two months before turning seven, she had celebrated her birthday, which was the last birthday her father celebrated with her. This is the third film – the first was made, she believes, in 1995, a documentary The Story of the Golden Chain, then Number 55, and now this film.
In Kusonje, 18 members of the 'A' company of the 105th Bjelovar Brigade of the Croatian Army and two members of the police died in an ambush on 8 September 1991. Those who survived the battle in the house with the number 55 were killed after surrendering and buried in a mass grave. No one survived in house number 55. Andrea Posarić is the daughter of the fallen defender Marij Posarić. She said she would like to know the whole truth, that her father was one of seven defenders who were tortured. As a child, she understood that war was happening and that anyone could die, but the way he ended did not deserve it. The film was co-financed by the Ministry of Veterans and the City of Bjelovar.
