Croatian Roman epic 'The Last Roman God' arrives in cinemas
A big-budget Croatian historical drama about Emperor Diocletian, filmed entirely in Latin, has opened in cinemas, with an early review from Večernji list praising its scale and lead performance.
A long-awaited Croatian historical epic about Emperor Diocletian has reached cinemas. The Last Roman God (Posljednji rimski bog) is directed by Božidar Domagoj Burić and, according to Večernji list, is the most ambitious and demanding production to come out of Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT).
Burić is known for award-winning docudramas on Croatian history, including Croatian Kings, Republic and The Age of the Uskoks. This is his biggest project so far.
Fiction, not a documentary
The film follows Diocles, an ambitious warrior from Salona who history knows as Diocletian, on his path to the imperial throne. He later introduced the tetrarchy, divided the empire into dioceses and, as many in Croatia know best, built the palace that is now Split's most recognisable landmark.
The reviewer stresses that the story is fiction. Diocletian, his wife Prisca and several other characters were real people, but the dialogue, the narrative arc and the screenwriting are the creation of the director and writer.
Amar Bukvić plays Diocletian, with Nataša Janjić Medančić as Prisca and Marko Cindrić as the rival Carinus. Slavko Sobin, Dragan Despot and Krešimir Mikić also appear.
What the review says
Večernji list describes the film as an ancient drama mixing Roman action, political thriller, family drama and, at times, satire. Alongside the rise to power, it follows three subplots showing who Diocletian persecuted, including Christians, disillusioned soldiers and doctors and scientists sentenced to death for studying anatomy on corpses.
The reviewer praises Bukvić's performance, calling it a role to remember, and singles out a closing Senate speech. Cindrić's turn as an unhinged tyrant also gets praise, though the critic says it leaves viewers wanting more action.
The whole film is spoken in Latin. The review says the language never becomes a distraction, unlike in Illyricum (2022), where it sometimes got in the way of the story.
This is one critic's view, and early reaction to the trailers and teasers has been strong, according to the same outlet. For anyone in Split, or planning a visit to Diocletian's Palace, it could be a good prompt to see the story on the big screen first.