RITAM GRADA / RHYTHM OF CITY
RETURN OF THE MAYOR TO THE CITY Branko Pešić, the man who made Belgrade bigger and more beautiful When a man loves and builds a city, the city returns to him that love even when he’s been long gone. Belgrade doesn’t forget its most beloved mayor, because Branko Pešić’s rich human and creative heritage still lives on its streets A s the most beloved mayor, who served as president of the Belgrade City Assembly in the period from 1964 to 1974, Branko Pešić became legendary while he was still alive. Not only because he was a great builder and visionary who created the greatest symbols of the cap- ital, which was then the capital of Yugoslavia, but also because he was a much-loved Belgrader, more popular among the people than even Josip Broz Tito himself. A reminder of all of that is provided by the film Gra- donačelnik [Mayor], about the character and work of Branko Pešić (1922 - 1984), with a screenplay signed by Duška Jovanić (directed by Vuk Dapčević), who us- es this opportunity to tell us the story of, as she puts it, the nostalgic hero of her childhood. “Speaking with his former comrades-in-arms, his clos- est associates, post-war comrades, pals from his summer holidays in Slankamen, his daughter and son, I realised that he was the king of his work and life. People expe- rienced him like Robin Hood and Superman, they saw him as both a boss and a sheriff, as someone who was both a relative and God’s help, and mostly a next-door neighbour who they could call on in the middle of the night, knocking on the door of his family house in Ze- mun,” says Duška, whose story of Belgrade’s most belov- ed mayor ever continues in the following text… On legacy During his nine-year term of office (1965-1974), the City constructed Gazela Bridge, the Beograđanka building, Pionir Hall, Pinky Hall and Hotel Yugoslavia, while the building of the Museum of Contemporary Art was com- pleted, Terazije Tunnel was dug and the famous Mostar Intersection was built, the ‘25 th May’ and ‘Olimp’ swim- ming pools opened and Ada Ciganlija became a landscaped bathing area. While he was at the helm of Belgrade, life began for the BITEF, FEST and BEMUS festivals, while the idea of the Alley of Distinguished Citizens was real-
60 | Beograd » Belgrade
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