If you didn’t grow up in the 80s, then you didn’t get to watch Bruno Sullack, the gentleman robber who drove the police crazy, live on television. A modern-day Arsene Lupine, this magnanimous criminal, along with his accomplice and friend Steve Jovanovich, robbed all kinds of supermarkets before moving on to high-end jewelry stores.
If Melanie Laurent’s film Libre – available on the Prime Video streaming platform – mainly tells the story of Bruno Sulak (played by Lucas Bravo), it unfortunately ignores Steve (Rasha Bukvic), who is just as incredible.
The actor who wasn’t
Born Novica Zivkovic, the young Yugoslav decided to leave France in her twenties to try her luck elsewhere. Passionate about martial arts, he became a boxer and even won the title of French heavyweight champion. Crowned with this success, he quickly secured the position of bodyguard for Jean-Paul Belmondo, whose career was at Zenit.
Was it the French actor who allowed him to star in his new film The Professional in 1980? That year, a man named Steve Yovanovitch played an extra role in Georges Lautner’s film adaptation of screenwriter Michel Audiard’s novel Death of a Brittle-Skinned Beast. He plays one of the secret service agents trying to catch Belmondo.
In this thriller, which attracted more than 5 million viewers to cinemas, Bebel slips into the shoes of Jose Beaumont, who is responsible for the execution of the president of Malaga. The counter-order is coming, the target has become a friend of the state. In order not to harm him, Beaumont is arrested, but soon escapes, determined to carry out the operation, despite the opposition of his superiors.
If Steve’s appearance in the pro is so funny, it’s because at that time the man had already committed a series of robberies and was actively wanted by the police. Moreover, during his first scene, a man appears with a shiny gold Rolex on his wrist. From there, saying that it comes from one of the robberies with Bruno Sulak is only one step…
When fiction meets reality
In 1984, three years after the release of The Professional, Steve and Bruno made headlines again for robbing a Cartier jewelry store on the Croisette while disguised as a tennis player and his driver.
The police manage to catch Sulak, who ends up locked up in Gradinian prison. A burglar who has developed the unfortunate habit of getting away easily can help his loyal accomplice. On March 9 or 11, 1984 (sources are not consistent), Steve was preparing to jump into a helicopter that would allow him to land in the prison yard. But he was met by Bordeaux police on the airport ramp. There was an exchange of fire between “Yugo” and the agents.
Steve is shot trying to board the helicopter. A scene reminiscent of the end of the movie The Professional, in which Jean-Paul Belmondo suffers the exact same fate (see video above). Or when fiction meets reality…
Free, watch on Prime Video.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
