Episode 1
Episode 1
Following the German bombing of Belgrade in 1941, Marko gives refuge to twenty people in the cellar of his old house
Where to watch Once Upon a Time There Was a Country
TV series
Once Upon a Time There Was a Country
19961 season8.8 / 10
Black marketeers Marko and Blacky manufacture and sell weapons to the Communist resistance in WWII Belgrade, living the good life along the way. Marko's surreal duplicity propels him up the ranks of the Communist Party, and he eventually abandons Blacky and steals his girlfriend. After a lengthy stay in a below-ground shelter, the couple reemerges during the Yugoslavian Civil War of the 1990s as Marko sees the opportunity to exploit the situation. An extended television version of Emir Kusturica's Palme d'Or winning Underground.
Availability
Not streaming in United States
Checked Sep 3, 2026
Once Upon a Time There Was a Country premiered November 8, 1996. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Synopsis
Black marketeers Marko and Blacky manufacture and sell weapons to the Communist resistance in WWII Belgrade, living the good life along the way. Marko's surreal duplicity propels him up the ranks of the Communist Party, and he eventually abandons Blacky and steals his girlfriend. After a lengthy stay in a below-ground shelter, the couple reemerges during the Yugoslavian Civil War of the 1990s as Marko sees the opportunity to exploit the situation. An extended television version of Emir Kusturica's Palme d'Or winning Underground.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 2
Episode 2
Blacky is in love with the famous Belgrade actress Natalija but things are complicated by the fact that Marko is also infatuated with her.
Where to watch Once Upon a Time There Was a CountryEpisode 3
Episode 3
Life above and underground continues as deals are done and a film is made.
Where to watch Once Upon a Time There Was a CountryEpisode 4
Episode 4
Above ground the deception continues while those underground are unaware. Underground a plan is enacted.
Where to watch Once Upon a Time There Was a CountryEpisode 5
Episode 5
Natalia is kidnapped. Blacky is freed, east meets west and the deception is uncovered.
Where to watch Once Upon a Time There Was a CountryEpisode 6
Episode 6
finale
Those underground are now rising. A dangerous deal is made with repercussions for all. Once upon a time there was a country...
Where to watch Once Upon a Time There Was a CountryEpisode information updated Sep 18, 2026
Available now in United States
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More about Once Upon a Time There Was a Country
Cast
Predrag 'Miki' ManojlovićMarco Dren
Lazar RistovskiPetar "Crni" Popara
Mirjana JokovićNatalija Zovkov
Slavko ŠtimacIvan Dren
Ernst StötznerFranc
Srđan 'Žika' TodorovićJovan Popara
Mirjana KaranovićVera
Milena Pavlović ČučilovićJalenaCredits
- Created by
- Emir Kusturica
- Written by
- Emir Kusturica, Dušan Kovačević
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Miniseries
- Episodes
- 6
- Original language
- Serbian
- Original title
- Bila jednom jedna zemlja
Production
- PandoraFrance
- KomunaSerbia
CiBy 2000France- Novo films