"LEPTIRICA" REVIVES A VILLAGE NEAR ZVORNIK

Zvornik boasts a rich array of tourist attractions, including Zvornik Lake, the Drina River, and the Đurđev Grad Fortress.

PHOTO: TO Zvornik

However, among these, the village of Zelinje stands out with its famous watermill, the filming site of the iconic movie "Leptirica".

The movie tells the story of a village plagued by the vampire Sava Savanović, who attacks millers in an old watermill. The watermill, where the chilling horror scenes were filmed, still houses the bed used during production. Nearly every villager of Zelinje participated in the movie as an extra.

Radomir Perić, a resident of Zelinje, recalls the event vividly:

"The entire village gathered. I witnessed the filming and got the chance to meet the actors, like Petar Božović. The movie sparked fear. That watermill, with its holes, where the vampire lurks, and Božović attacks—that scene was the scariest," Perić recounted to RTRS.

"Leptirica" was inspired by Milovan Glišić's story "After Ninety Years". Directed by Đorđe Kadijević, the film starred Petar Božović, Mirjana Nikolić, Slobodan Perović, and Tanasije Uzunović.

Nenad Prodanović, now the president of the local community, also remembers the filming:

"My mother was just a girl back then, as were others," Prodanović shared, adding that "Leptirica" was filmed over 50 years ago.

ZELINJE’S WATERMILLS ENTER THE TOURIST MAP

Zelinje once had seven watermills, but only three remain today, including the one featured in the film. Recognizing its significance, the local tourist organization has incorporated the mill into the region's tourist offerings.

"Zelinje has gained popularity; many tourists visit, which is why we’ve promoted this watermill. We’ve added signage and placed it on Google Maps. We’re thrilled to expand this authentic story," said Aleksandra Đerić of the Zvornik Tourism Organization.

"Leptirica" was highly acclaimed, winning numerous awards at domestic and international festivals. It has since achieved cult status among horror enthusiasts and is regarded as one of the best Yugoslav films in the genre.