In the mid-1980s
Belgrade finally gets its first
serial killer: an awkward
carnations seller named Pera Mitić (
Taško Načić). Mitić is an
overweight 48-year-old man still living with his aging mother—an unusual relationship with numerous
Oedipean overtones. His mother often punishes him when he does not sell any of the carnation flowers. His punishments include kneeling on nutshells while being slapped by his mother or being locked in the water tank. This is the reason why he starts killing every girl who refuses to buy his flowers. Mitić's character can be compared to
Norman Bates's character and relationship with his mother. After the first murder, mostly incompetent Belgrade police inspector Ognjen Strahinjić (
Nikola Simić) starts the investigation. His attempt at catching the strangler by employing an undercover agent, Rodoljub Jovanović (Branislav Zeremski), ends up in tragedy. Strahinjić himself is a loner living only with his cat George, who is his best friend. He is a short man, with a thin moustache and is similar to
Inspector Clouseau from the
Blake Edwards's
The Pink Panther series. The plot becomes even more complicated when the strangler-obsessed rock star Spiridon Kopicl (
Srđan Šaper) records the song "Bejbi, bejbi" ("Baby, Baby"), with his band
VIS Simboli, dedicated to the strangler, which immediately becomes a nationwide hit. Mitić, having heard the song, becomes delighted; he even strangled his own mother in order to hear it on the TV. While Mitić's number of victims becomes bigger, Kopicl is focused on Sofija (
Sonja Savić) who is a host of a popular musical show on the radio. While attempting to strangle Sofija, Mitić gets on his way and while attacking her Sofija bites his ear in self-defence. Kopicl gets the credit of a savior and a hero and marries Sofija. On their honeymoon, in the climax of his obsession, Kopicl strangles Sofija while Mitić, dressed as his mother, observes. Mitić then enters the room and asks for his ear. Kopicl runs to an abandoned building where, after a struggle, hangs Mitić who bit his ear. In the end all of the crimes, including Sofija's death, are credited to the late Mitić. Kopicl, while getting his ear bitten hears a melody on which he composed a
symphony inspired by the crime and, after the death of his father, marries his attractive stepmother. ==Cast==