The Novel Promotion by Prof. Dr. Miomir Petrović “Dionysius 1941”

The promotion of the new novel by professor Miomir Petrović “Dionysius 1941: A Possible History of Ivan Petrović” was held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Bukmarker Literary Club.
The novel, as well as the miraculous story of Ivan Petrović, one of the most sought-after film actors between the two wars, was discussed by Nataša Gojković, critic, Dejan Acović, translator and critic and author, the moderator of the discussion was Ivana Misirlić, editor of the publication.

Svetislav Ivan Petrović was the first actor from this region to gain international film fame. He was born in 1894 in Novi Sad. During his studies in Vienna, he often visited Budapest. There he dedicated himself to his acting career. It was the era of silent films and he was a handsome, seductive guy. He even represented the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in swimming at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. He made many silent films and made his debut in the sound film “Lady with the Sunflowers” by Michael Curtis, with whom he later made three more films. In the mid-twenties he became an international star. In France he made the films “The Naked Woman” and “Morgana the Siren”, while in America he achieved notable roles in the films “The Wizard” and “The Garden of Allah”. He would become one of the most sought-after actors of his time, who was seen as a replacement for Rudolph Valentino. He was ideal for the roles of aristocratic characters, noblemen, officers and fatal lovers. In the early thirties he went to Germany where, until World War II, he played in almost forty films. He fell into oblivion because he starred in German films made during Hitler’s time. He died in Munich in 1962, unjustly suppressed from the artistic map of these areas. On the third hand, today, in the wake of major global conflicts and changes, it is a topical issue: where does artistic vocation and professionalism end and collaboration begin?