Juzni Vetar 2- Ubrzanje -south Wind 2- Speed Up... May 2026
South Wind 2: Speed Up (released in Serbia as Južni Vetar 2: Ubrzanje) is a rare beast in Balkan cinema: a sequel that arguably surpasses its predecessor in sheer entertainment value, while shifting tonal gears dramatically. The first film was a grounded, neo-noirish origin story about a young man, Petar Maraš (Miloš Biković), getting sucked into the Belgrade underworld. The sequel, true to its subtitle Ubrzanje (Acceleration), drops any pretense of slow-burn character study and becomes a relentless, diesel-fueled, bullet-riddled chase movie.
It’s less The Godfather Part II and more John Wick meets The French Connection—set against the specific, grimy, post-millennial backdrop of Serbia’s criminal borderlands.
| Aspect | South Wind (2018) | South Wind 2: Speed Up (2021) | |--------|----------------------|----------------------------------| | Pacing | Slow-burn, methodical | Relentless, breakneck | | Genre | Crime drama / Neo-noir | Action-thriller / Chase film | | Antagonist | Systemic corruption & rival clan | A single, terrifying hitman | | Setting | Belgrade’s criminal underworld | On the road (highways, small towns, tunnels) | | Tone | Tragic, fatalistic | Tense, adrenaline-fueled, nihilistic |
Since the release of Ubrzanje, fans have been clamoring for the conclusion. In late 2023, Milos Avramovic confirmed that the script for South Wind 3 is complete. The third film is tentatively titled Juzni Vetar 3: Prekid (Break/Interruption), suggesting that Petar will finally force a "full stop" to the war with Stupar. Juzni Vetar 2- Ubrzanje -South Wind 2- Speed Up...
The "Speed Up" of the second film is the necessary acceleration before the crash. As one character says in the film: "Ako ne mozes da pobegnes, onda moras da ubrzas." (If you cannot run away, then you have to speed up.)
The film picks up immediately after the events of South Wind. Petar Maraš, having survived the bloody climax, is now a marked man. His mentor, the corrupt cop Stupar (Bogdan Diklić), is dead. The rival Šabac clan wants his head. And most critically, the Russian mafia (introduced as a shadowy force in the first film) is furious over a hijacked drug shipment.
Forced to flee Belgrade, Petar hides out with his brother, a mechanic in a small town. But peace is short-lived. A relentless, almost Terminator-like Russian assassin, known only as "The Russian" (played with icy menace by Serbian MMA fighter and actor Miloš Biković—no relation to the lead, confusingly), is dispatched to find and eliminate Petar. The film becomes a desperate, cross-country game of cat-and-mouse, culminating in a spectacular, multi-vehicle chase through tunnels, highways, and industrial zones. The "speed up" is literal: the plot is essentially a 90-minute escape sequence, punctuated by brutal fights and betrayals. South Wind 2: Speed Up (released in Serbia
The sequel was generally received as a successful expansion of the South Wind universe: praised for energetic pacing and strong performances, though some critics noted that the increased scale occasionally sacrificed the original’s more focused character study. It reinforced the franchise’s standing in regional cinema and helped popularize modern Balkan crime dramas for wider audiences.
1. The Inescapable Nature of Violence Unlike the first film, which showed Petar’s reluctant descent into crime, Speed Up shows the consequences. Petar doesn’t want to be a gangster; he wanted to open a car wash. But the system—family debts, corrupt cops, rival clans, foreign investors—has locked him in. The film argues that in the post-Yugoslav transition era, once you engage with the "south wind" (the colloquial name for the illegal cigarette and fuel trade across the Balkan route), there is no exit. Every attempt at normal life is a lie.
2. The New Balkan Order: Russia as the Unseen Puppet A major thematic upgrade from the first film is the introduction of the Russian mafia as not just a criminal element but a metaphor for geopolitical reality. In Speed Up, the local Serbian clans are small-time. The real power is the Bratva—cold, efficient, and treating the Balkans as a mere logistical corridor. The Russian assassin isn't a cartoon villain; he's a professional. His presence signifies how local crime has been subsumed into a larger, more ruthless international system. When he says, "This is business," he speaks for Moscow's view of the region. It’s less The Godfather Part II and more
3. Masculinity and Brotherhood The film revolves around two codes of brotherhood:
After the explosive events of the first film, the protagonist (novice gangster-turned-figurehead) tries to consolidate power in Belgrade’s criminal scene. Ambition, betrayals, and shifting alliances force him into a dangerous game with domestic rivals and international players. As he moves to "speed up" operations—expanding drug distribution, arms trafficking, and money laundering—the consequences mount: law enforcement intensifies pressure, allies reveal hidden agendas, and personal relationships strain under the weight of violence and mistrust. The sequel mixes action set pieces with quieter character moments, ending on a tense note that leaves room for further continuation.
