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Guardians of the Formula

Play trailer Poster for Guardians of the Formula 2023 1h 59m Drama Mystery & Thriller History War Play Trailer Watchlist
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October 1958, the Cold War is at its peak. The fear of a nuclear war is growing every day. Working on a secret experiment at the state nuclear institute Vinča in Yugoslavia, a group of young communist scientists led by Professor Dragoslav Popović get irradiated with a lethal dose of uranium. Under the veil of secrecy, in the middle of the night, on a special flight, they are sent to Paris to the Institut Curie clinic for experimental medical treatment headed by respected doctor Georges Mathé. Doctor Mathé who is a fiery adversary to nuclear weapons feels a genuine contempt for the work endeavors of Professor Popović and his team. On the other hand, they doubt Mathé’s true intentions to cure them. As they are left with only days to live, the medical team still has no solution. So, Doctor Mathé proposes to perform the first-ever human bone marrow transplant. Is it an experiment with human lives or does he truly want to help? Based on a true story.

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Guardians of the Formula

Critics Reviews

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Jessica Kiang Variety 08/15/2023
A film that proves, in elegant defiance of Chekov’s Gun, that sometimes the most dramatic story is of the bomb that doesn’t go off. Go to Full Review Joshua Polanski Boston Hassle 07/05/2024
The “Balkan Oppenheimer” is both an exceptional medical procedural and nuclear film, likely making it one of a kind in this respect. Go to Full Review Milana Vujkov Lola On Film 12/05/2023
4/5
Bjelogrlić treads the perilous tightrope between genre-generated sentiment and genuine emotion, arriving at an incredibly humane, candid story on the moralities of scientific experiment. A truly moving meditation on what courage, at its core, really is. Go to Full Review Neil Young Screen International 08/17/2023
A conventional but mostly engaging medical procedural set in the France and Yugoslavia of 1958. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Elena S @RT60249199 06/15/2024 This is really a great movie where we discover a part of history, of human relations and of humanity. Selfless acts that prove that there is hope for us. Great team of actors as well. Loved it! See more Read all reviews
Guardians of the Formula

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Cast & Crew

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Dragan Bjelogrlic

Director

Alexis Manenti

Doctor Mate

Radivoje Bukvic

Dragoslav

Lionel Abelanski

Actor

Jérémie Laheurte

Actor

Olivier Barthélémy

Actor
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Guardians of the Formula

Guardians of the Formula (2023) Guardians of the Formula (2023) Guardians of the Formula (2023) Guardians of the Formula (2023) Guardians of the Formula (2023) Guardians of the Formula (2023) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis October 1958, the Cold War is at its peak. The fear of a nuclear war is growing every day. Working on a secret experiment at the state nuclear institute Vinča in Yugoslavia, a group of young communist scientists led by Professor Dragoslav Popović get irradiated with a lethal dose of uranium. Under the veil of secrecy, in the middle of the night, on a special flight, they are sent to Paris to the Institut Curie clinic for experimental medical treatment headed by respected doctor Georges Mathé. Doctor Mathé who is a fiery adversary to nuclear weapons feels a genuine contempt for the work endeavors of Professor Popović and his team. On the other hand, they doubt Mathé’s true intentions to cure them. As they are left with only days to live, the medical team still has no solution. So, Doctor Mathé proposes to perform the first-ever human bone marrow transplant. Is it an experiment with human lives or does he truly want to help? Based on a true story.
Director
Dragan Bjelogrlic
Screenwriter
Vuk Rsumovic, Ognjen Svilicic, Dragan Bjelogrlic
Production Co
Bitter Frames Production, Perfo Production, Film Studio Skopje, Cobra Film Department, Ton Film
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller, History, War
Original Language
French
Runtime
1h 59m