Ivkova slava

Another work of Zdravko Sotra who continued to make films for big screen as if they are TV films. Even worse than Zona Zamfirova which at least had a story, this one should get us closer to Serbian tradition, but failed to do what they advertise. Make as an adaptation of Stevan Sremac's novel, it shows that Sotra is awful script writer. There is no story at all. There are some entertaining gags during three days of feast (thanks to excellent actors) but that can not save the movie since there is no storyline! And, again, as with Zona Zamfirova, the camera positioning is like in TV film. Why then bother to go to cinema? My advice: don't waste time with this one!

When movie landed in the theaters, everybody expected another miss of home movie production, but the movie was pleasant surprise. Much better movie then it's "prequel" Zona Zamfiorova, although this movie was made by the book of Stevan Sremac, too. Clear improvement in acting crew with Bjelogrlic, Cvijanovic, Todorovic etc., is enrichment for this film. Fantastic crew and more interesting script brought overwhelming victory against Z.Z. Minus for the film is this new trend in domestic film production. The new trend is the stupid commercials during the film. For example, actors only drink trademarked drinks, with it's label always, and i mean always turned in the face of the camera, although label was turned in the different way the scene before. And the gypsies play the music clearly out of the time of the 19th century. Ignoring this, everybody will find the movie very entertaining, even though strange Southern Serbia accent is difficult to understand. Mile rules. Serbia will understand. Zoran Cvijanovic's character Mile is bonus for his career. Somebody will not agree, but how can't you love Mile.

Let me tell you more about 'slava'. Every family has a saint they celebrate, some have it as Saint Nikola, some have Saint Archangel, they are all saints. Every once in a year there is a day for each saint (Saint Nikola's day, for example). That time they invite all their neighbors and friends to a big celebration, not like a party, but an old, sitting at the table while eating and discussing, then getting drunk and dancing type of celebration. It is a traditional Serbian thing that manages to keep itself liked by everyone. So, if you want to learn something about Serbian tradition, have a good laugh, and be told a good story, this movie is no discussion, definitely for you, watch it.

"Ivkova Slava" was featured at the recent Festival of New Serbian Film, in Toronto. It was eagerly anticipated, as memories of "Zona Zamfirova" are still fresh here. As with Zona, director Sotra takes us back to times past with colour and exacting detail: the sets, the costumes, the use of regional dialect, the feeling for a time when Serbia was reemerging from centuries of Ottoman subjugation, and notably the accurate portrayals of the ancient customs of the 'slava', or 'patron saint's day feast'.

In Southern Serbia, there are long standing traditions of hospitality. There is also a long standing tradition of going to emotional extremes, as we see with Ivko's three best friends (four, if you count "what's-his-name" the uninvited Shakespeare-quoting stranger). Reacting to a perceived slight from their host, they set out to publicly embarrass him, and majorly overstay their welcome at Ivko's saint's day, leading to all sorts of mishaps, frustrations, and comic moments. I can say that the actors who portrayed Kurjak, Smuk and Kalcha very effectively got under my skin.... they brought to mind an old Serbian proverb that says, "Both fish and guests stink after they've been sitting around for three days" (in the original, "I gost i riba posle tri dana smrde"). Poor Ivko just can't get a break.

An excellent cast was selected, especially for the lead roles. The musical score was disappointing, relying on somewhat modern sounds for both incidental music and one spotlight number, "Insomnia" ("Nesanica"). The musical heritage of that region is so intoxicatingly rich, there was plenty to choose from that would have kept the mood captivating and authentic.

Well, we have here another movie made by Sotra by novel of S. Sremac. It describes the life in southern Serbia in the 19 century. Movie describes one traditional family fest, and troubles which can come of it.

The actors were pretty OK, but biggest flaw was scenario, or adaptation of novel. In few occasions movie becomes pretty boring and movie is much to long. It's length is probably connected with the fact that movie should be montaged into mini series to be previewed on some Serbian television, which is also clearly shown on some strange scene cuts.

I've gave it 6 *, because it's still interesting to see some old customs, and it?s much better then it's predecessor Zona Zamfiirova (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326449) . If you have some spare time, watch it. It will help you relax.