The Serbian Girl (1991)
A young Serbian woman's hopeful trip to Hamburg unravels into a solitary, grueling road back home in this quietly powerful German drama.
The Serbian Girl - Movie Information
- Original Title: Das serbische Mädchen
- Release Year: 1991
- Directed by: Peter Sehr
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Original Language: German
- Spoken Languages: German, Serbian
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 31, 1991 (Germany)
- Alternative Titles: Srpkinja (YU)
- Production Companies: Trebitsch Produktion International GmbH, Arbor TV Filmproduktion, BR
- Production Countries: Germany
The Serbian Girl - Plot
The naive 18 year old Dobrila leaves her little Serbian village to travel to Hamburg, Germany, where her boyfriend lives. The trip is not easy. Finally in Hamburg she has to realize her boyfriend is not very interested in a relationship. She doesn't tell him she's pregnant and starts on her way home to Serbia, which turns out to be even more exhausting.
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The Serbian Girl - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Peter Sehr
Main Cast
- Mirjana Joković
- Ben Becker
- Pascal Breuer
- Vladimir Torbica
- Joachim Regelien
- Volker Prechtel
- Werner Asam
- Peter Carsten
- Borut Alujevič
- Martin Maria Abram
Writers
- Peter Sehr
The Serbian Girl - FAQs
What is The Serbian Girl about?
The Serbian Girl follows Dobrila, a naive 18-year-old from a small Serbian village, who travels to Hamburg hoping to reunite with her boyfriend. When he shows little interest, she keeps her pregnancy secret and sets off on an exhausting, emotionally draining journey back home to Serbia.
Who directed The Serbian Girl?
The Serbian Girl was directed by Peter Sehr, a German filmmaker who also wrote the screenplay. The film marked one of his early feature works and showcased his interest in intimate, character-driven stories set against the backdrop of cross-cultural displacement and personal hardship.
Who plays Dobrila in The Serbian Girl?
Dobrila is played by Mirjana Joković, a Serbian actress whose naturalistic performance anchors the entire film. Ben Becker plays Achim, her disinterested boyfriend in Hamburg, while Pascal Breuer and Vladimir Torbica round out the supporting cast in key roles.
When was The Serbian Girl released?
The Serbian Girl was released on January 31, 1991, in Germany. The film was produced with support from German production companies including Trebitsch Produktion International GmbH, Arbor TV Filmproduktion, and the Bavarian public broadcaster BR.
What language is The Serbian Girl in?
The film is primarily in German, with Serbian also spoken throughout — a natural reflection of its story about a young Serbian woman navigating life in Germany. This bilingual texture adds authenticity to Dobrila's sense of displacement and cultural isolation during her journey.
Is The Serbian Girl based on a true story?
The Serbian Girl does not appear to be based on a specific true story. Writer-director Peter Sehr crafted an original screenplay, though the film draws on very real social themes — undocumented immigration, cultural alienation, and the vulnerability of young women traveling alone across borders in early 1990s Europe.
What are similar films to The Serbian Girl?
If The Serbian Girl resonates with you, consider exploring The Order of Things (2017) and In a Land That No Longer Exists (2022) for similarly intimate European dramas about identity and displacement. Sun and Concrete (2023) and Night Always Comes (2025) also share that raw, grounded storytelling sensibility.
How long is The Serbian Girl?
The Serbian Girl runs for 92 minutes, making it a compact and focused drama. The tight runtime suits the film's road-movie structure, keeping the emotional tension of Dobrila's journey taut from her arrival in Hamburg to her difficult return trip to Serbia.
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