An innovative documentary series about the illustrious maritime history of the Bay of Kotor will air every weekday at 9:00 PM on RTCG’s First Channel, starting Monday, August 28, 2023.
The documentary TV series "Boka pomorska" (Maritime Boka)—produced by the NGO Matica Boke and the Belgrade-based association "Šta hoćeš"—consists of eleven 45-minute episodes dedicated to notable seafarers, shipowners, maritime warriors, and entrepreneurs who were either born in the Bay of Kotor or whose work was linked to the region. Following its world premiere on Montenegro's public broadcaster in late 2022 and the universally positive audience response, the RTCG editorial team decided to rebroadcast the series during prime time on the First Channel of Television of Montenegro; it will air every weekday starting Monday, August 28, 2023, at 9:00 PM. Re-runs are scheduled for 2:00 AM and 10:00 AM the following day.
Siniša Luković, the series' writer and host, makes no secret of his satisfaction that the show is back before audiences: "Generations of people from the Bay of Kotor lived with and off the sea, building a globally renowned maritime tradition that *Boka pomorska* brings back into the spotlight. The maritime history of the Bay of Kotor is the most factually substantiated aspect of our national history. Free from any mythologizing, the figures we highlighted for the first season all had a significant impact on world history. Naturally, the series is the result of years of dedicated work and research by the entire team; I am genuinely delighted that, through its aesthetics and production quality—which align with the best global standards—it has succeeded in winning the hearts of viewers and, consequently, the public broadcaster's editors, ensuring it can now be seen during prime time on RTCG’s First Channel. One must sail..."
The executive producer of the series, Željko Komnenović, president of the Municipality of Tivat, reflects on the status of this cinematic work within the broader social environment: "The neglect of Boka Kotorska and its historical identity is a long-term harmful process in our society, in which it is treated exclusively as a tourist destination and a source of income. On the other hand, the systemic bad attitude towards seafarers and maritime tradition is simply not decent. I remind the public that it is seafarers who are the biggest source of foreign currency inflow from abroad, which is the second The lifeblood of our economy. I also believe that we have told interesting stories about history, competing with the world's best documentary programs. Therefore, it is not surprising that the series "Boka pomorska" is repeated in prime time. We hope that there will be a hearing in the wider social community to continue work on this historically significant project."
Trailer: https://youtu.be/0BwyK-vUPwQ
Through a modern cinematic format, viewers are introduced to the lives of great figures who shaped the course of world history from the 17th to the 20th century. Captains Stevan Vukotić and Ivo Visin were the first among the South Slavs to circumnavigate the globe. Captain Petar Želalić rose from being a Turkish slave to a captain who captured the Ottoman Empire's largest warship. The Venetian Republic engaged Captain Marko Martinović as a master instructor to teach maritime skills to Russian noblemen. Admirals of the Russian Imperial Fleet Matija Zmajević and Marko Vojnović shaped the fleet's development and secured key wartime victories. Captain Spiridon Gopčević, hailed as the "King of Grain" in Trieste, became one of Austria-Hungary's largest sailing-ship owners. Captain Bogdan Tripković, specializing in the timber trade, established a steamship fleet in Trieste and rose to prominence in the European maritime salvage market with a company that remains a model for European Union multinationals to this day. In Argentina, Captain Miloš Vukasović played a pivotal role in the development of the merchant marine, leading projects of national importance such as the La Platense company. Also in Argentina, Captain Ilija Damjanović came to the aid of the Allies and located Admiral von Spee's fleet, thereby influencing the course of World War I. Captain Vlado Ivelić, whose career spanned half a century of sailing—from sailing ships to steamships—left behind a valuable autobiographical account of life at sea. Captain Miroslav Štumberger was an accomplished sailor, seaplane pilot, submariner, commander, inventor, model maker, painter, and designer who gifted an entire museum to his beloved Boka. The final episode of the series' first season presents the parallel stories of two active churches—protected cultural heritage sites established thanks to seafarers—namely the Church of St. Nicholas on the Luštica Peninsula and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Prčanj.
Rastko Šejić, the series' director and conceptual creator, views the series as a natural response to the sense that the identity of Boka Kotorska is under threat: "When you have spent your whole life swimming in the waters of Boka Kotorska, only someone completely oblivious would fail to wonder what lies beneath the surface of the bay—what secrets are held by its ruined or well-preserved palaces and walls, and what kind of people stand behind these traces of cultural heritage. As the 'revaluation' of attractive destinations proceeds apace, and the languages of newcomers become dominant—partly due to a total lack of interest in the culture and customs of the region where they settle—it is hardly surprising that a need has arisen to bring to life, in this unique way, stories about an extraordinary past that defines the entire region and its mindset. I am proud that these individuals—exemplars of humanity and heroism—are part of the cultural heritage to which I myself belong."
The series "Boka Pomorska" takes viewers on an exciting, dynamic, and engaging journey through the museums, archives, and historic sites of the Bay of Kotor, exploring its spiritual and natural heritage. Through preserved historical documents, paintings, maps, photographs, and various artifacts, the series tells the story of the rich maritime legacy of the Mediterranean's only fjord. This history is recounted by over 50 expert contributors—including historians, archaeologists, museum specialists, writers, art historians, clergy, ethnologists, and seafarers or descendants of famous captains from the region. All of this is captured through spectacular cinematography by a team led by veteran Časlav Petrović, alongside directors of photography Aleksandar Kalezić and Marko Ristić. With a modern visual style created by Tivat-based academic painter Zoran Mujbegović—incorporating computer-generated infographics alongside a wealth of archival material and historical illustrations—the content gains a clarity and symbolic resonance that appeals to the digital generation. An original score by Vladimir Lešić sets the rhythm for the entire production. The series was created in collaboration with numerous institutions dedicated to preserving maritime heritage both at home and abroad, including the Maritime Museum of Argentina, the Historical Archives of Trieste, the "Sergej Mašera" Maritime Museum in Piran, and many others.
