The Partisan Necropolis
Filmscreening and Q&A with filmmaker Chris Leslie
The Partisan Necropolis
The Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina, built between 1959 and 1965, stands as a powerful symbol of resistance and sacrifice. Designed by renowned architect Bogdan Bogdanović, the cemetery commemorates the Yugoslav Partisans who fought against the Independent State of Croatia, a Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy puppet state during World War II.
The cemetery's legacy is deeply contested. Many locals, political leaders, and the Catholic Church dismiss it as a relic of communism, denying its status as a cemetery and questioning its relevance. For others, however, it is sacred ground—a monument to anti-fascism, a symbol of resistance, and a place of personal grief for families whose loved ones are remembered there.
This documentary delves into the origins and design of the cemetery in 1960s Mostar, featuring Bogdan Bogdanović’s rarely seen original sketches and archive footage. Historians, architects, and cultural heritage experts provide crucial insights into the site’s historical and cultural significance, while touching on the larger context of Mostar’s divisions 30 years after the Bosnian War. Dissenting voices also weigh in, questioning the cemetery’s relevance, ownership, and the legitimacy of its designation as a burial site. At the heart of the documentary are the personal stories of families returning to the cemetery after decades. Their deeply emotional journeys, as they search through the rubble for the plaques commemorating their loved ones, bring the human dimension of the site’s history into sharp focus.
Filmed in real time, this documentary is a compelling exploration of the Partisan Memorial Cemetery—a site where the past and present collide, and where the fight to preserve history continues in the face of rising division and neglect.
Q&A
After the screening Chris Leslie will talk to dr. Heleen Touquet (KULeuven, University of Antwerp and Gerda Henkel-Stiftung) about the documentary and answer questions from the public.
About Chris Leslie
Chris Leslie is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and director known for his powerful visual storytelling. His work explores urban transformation and the lives of marginalized communities, both globally and in his native Glasgow.
His acclaimed photo essays and writing have appeared in The Guardian, capturing shifting cityscapes and social realities across Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Africa, and Asia. His best-selling book and project, Disappearing Glasgow, documents the city’s dramatic evolution and solidifies his role as one of its most important contemporary chroniclers.
Leslie’s long-term project A Balkan Journey, spans 25 years, examining post-war recovery in the former Yugoslavia and the enduring power of memory, resilience, and reconstruction. His photography is held by the National Galleries of Scotland and private collections.
As a filmmaker, his debut feature Finding Family (2014) won two Scottish BAFTAs and multiple international awards. His short film Zatvaranje (2021), drawing parallels between the Covid lockdown and the Siege of Sarajevo, premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival.
His latest film, The Partisan Necropolis (2025), is a feature-length documentary about the struggle to preserve Mostar’s iconic Partisan Memorial Cemetery.
www.balkanjourney.com - final copies of A Balkan Journey Book are available here
Practical information
9 October 2025
17h15 - 19h45 (screening + Q&A)
Stadscampus UAntwerpen - S.R. 201, R-blok, Rodestraat 14, 2000 Antwerpen
Participation is free, please register using button below