A newlywed couple faces atomic chaos and satire on their wedding day in postwar Yugoslavia.
ATOMIC WAR BRIDE
At a church in the country, eternally optimistic John marries Maria, his Atomic War Bride, as a war starts, planes buzz overhead and bombs start dropping. Though John is "mobilized" by the military seconds after the ceremony, he and Maria are reunited just in time for the Big Bang!
Quick Answer
Atomic War Bride is a 1960 Yugoslav comedy, drama, and science fiction film directed by Veljko Bulajić about a young couple whose wedding is disrupted by the outbreak of atomic war, blending anti-war sentiment with satirical elements.
Programmer's Pick
Only in Yugoslavia could a wedding, an atomic bomb, and a war satire walk into a church and come out as a tragicomedy. Atomic War Bride turns nuclear dread into a surreal, irreverent spectacle—complete with Tito’s army on call and a marriage made in fallout.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- Veljko Bulajić
- Writer
- Cesare Zavattini
- Release
- 1960
- Runtime
- 1h 24m
- Country
- Yugoslavia
- Language
- Serbo-Croatian
- Genres
- Comedy, Drama, Science Fiction
- Also Known As
- War, Krieg, Atomic War Bride, Original title: Rat
Why This Matters
This Yugoslav science-fiction drama earned significant recognition at the 1960 Pula Film Festival, winning three Golden Arena awards, and was also nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, highlighting its critical acclaim within international and regional cinema.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
The film’s central couple ties the knot just as bombs start dropping, delivering a one-of-a-kind post-nuclear nuptials scenario.
With its blend of anti-war messaging and absurdist comedy, the film reflects both Eastern European sensibilities and sharp political satire.
This is European science fiction with a distinctly psychotronic, surrealist bend, a rarity from 1960s Yugoslavia.
President Marshal Tito’s army assists on-screen, grounding the satire in the real militarism of the era.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Outbreak of atomic war during a wedding
Atomic bombs and military mobilization
Destruction and upheaval of everyday life
Postwar Yugoslav countryside and church
Questions from the Vault
When was Atomic War Bride released? +
Atomic War Bride was released in 1960.
Who directed Atomic War Bride? +
Atomic War Bride was directed by Veljko Bulajić.
How long is Atomic War Bride? +
Atomic War Bride has a runtime of 84 minutes.
What genre is Atomic War Bride? +
Atomic War Bride is a blend of comedy, drama, and science fiction.
Where can I watch Atomic War Bride? +
Atomic War Bride is available to stream on SassyFlix.
