The story of Ulzana, an Apache chief who has reached a rapprochement with the local Mexican population and generously extends it to whites who travel through the territory. His people have become inured to the treacherous ways of the white man, however, and are now reliant on them for booze, 'relief flour' and beef steak.
Acting
Gojko Mitić's smoldering dignity carries the entire Eastern Bloc.
Production
East Germany built a western town in Yugoslavia. History is wild.
Direction
Kolditz shoots landscapes like he's angry at them.
Director
Gottfried Kolditz
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
DEFA westerns were East Germany's answer to Hollywood, casting Yugoslavs as Native Americans to critique American imperialism while conveniently ignoring Soviet treatment of indigenous peoples.
Gojko Mitić became the GDR's biggest star playing Native Americans—so popular that fans wrote him letters addressed to 'Ulzana, Arizona' which somehow reached him in Belgrade.
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