The documentary film From Exile to Return, directed by Lazar Vuković and produced by Wolf Entertainment, premiered last night at the Yugoslav Film Archive to an audience that included HRH Crown Prince Alexander, HRH Crown Princess Katherine, HRH Hereditary Prince Philip and HRH Princess Danica. The film presents the extraordinary life journey of HRH Crown Prince Alexander, Head of the Royal House of Karađorđević, and explores one of the most compelling personal and national stories in modern Serbian history.
Filming began in London at Claridge’s Hotel in Suite 212, the room where the Crown Prince was born in 1945. Production then continued across Serbia and several international locations. A wide range of notable figures contributed their testimonies, helping to illuminate both the legacy of the Karađorđević Royal Family and the complex history of Serbia and its people. The documentary is accompanied by an upcoming television series with the working title The Crown, the State and the People, which will expand on many fascinating accounts that could not be included in the film.
From Exile to Return offers a rare insight into the private life of HRH Crown Prince Alexander, who publicly shares his story on film for the first time. Through a combination of previously unseen material and deeply personal reflections, the documentary examines the challenges and triumphs of a royal family positioned between East and West while striving to preserve its heritage in service to the nation.
Speaking at the premiere, HRH Crown Prince Alexander said:
“It is not easy to speak about oneself and about one’s life. There is much said in this film. I will not dwell on the difficult and sad moments because there were many beautiful ones that outweighed the painful ones. I hope this story reminds us that certain things, such as an ideology that views a two year old child as an enemy, must never happen again. No one should be forced to grow up far from their homeland, able only to dream of it. The most important message is contained in the second part of the title, Return. My family and I have returned to Serbia. The Karađorđević family is home, where we live, marry and are born, with our people, where we belong. The Crown exists to serve Serbia and its people. That is the essence of this film.”
The film traces remarkable chapters in the Crown Prince’s life, from his birth in wartime exile and his baptism with the late Queen Elizabeth II as his godmother to his designation as an enemy of the state at only two years old. It also explores long standing mysteries, including speculation surrounding the so called looted gold, family heirlooms kept sealed in a safe deposit box for decades and the confiscation of the Royal Family’s private property.
Featuring contributions from prominent public figures, academics, diplomats, cultural leaders, journalists, actors and writers, the film will also be screened at the Serbian Film Festival in Chicago this December.
Director Lazar Vuković addressed the audience, saying:
“From the outset, my intention was not only to document a series of historical events but to reveal the human being behind the legacy. I wanted to portray the son, the husband, the father, the grandfather and the man who has faced extraordinary circumstances with dignity, patience and unwavering dedication to his people. I hope this film allows audiences to understand more deeply his commitment to unity, service and heritage and the remarkable personal story that accompanies the title.”
Distinguished guests in attendance included His Grace Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo, Vicar of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, the Ambassadors of Spain and Argentina, members of the diplomatic corps, cultural institutions, advisory bodies to the Crown and many respected figures from the fields of business, art and public life.
Radiša Cvetković, Assistant Director of the Yugoslav Film Archive, closed the official programme by stating:
“This film addresses themes that are part of our history and collective memory. As the leading institution of film culture, the Yugoslav Film Archive has a responsibility to support testimonies and authorial interpretations of the past that also speak to the present.”
For more information on the Serbian Chicago Film festival screening please visit: https://serbianfilmfest.com/od-izgnanstva-do-povratka/
