Zona Zamfirova

ZONA ZAMFIROVA is really entertaining movie capturing the Balkan's atmosphere a century ago. Dating was an art, marriage was an interesting business and the virginity was women's only and most protected capital. But unfortunately this film is totally not understandable for western audience. The language style, the situation bloopers, the psychology of the people were things you could get familiar only if you have ever lived with. And like in NO MAN'S LAND the humor of ZONA's love excitement is reaching only those slavic-speaking, doomed to live on the crossroad called Balkans. Serb films are coming to Bulgaria so rarely, but it's always great pleasure to see something so fresh and funny!

this is a lovely portrait of the patriarchal balkan society of ottoman times! (it is set in late 1880s, some 10 years after Serbia acquired the Nis area, but European modernity hasn't quite come yet!) or a myth about it. beautiful myth of the festivity and colourfulness of the bygone times, a myth that every people on earth needs! I am so glad that we also acquired one, and so well made (the dialogue, the set, the costumes, the soundtrack!), and done true to our own spirit (the dialogue, the body language!!!)! Indeed, being an internationally overlooked region has this among its advantages - we didn't have Hollywood making our myths! cf. Braveheart for the Scottish and so many other examples

and I say "we", because this portrait will easily be recognised as "own" in any of the Balkan countries! When I was showing it to a friend from far off Cyprus and she exclaimed in surprise "oh! your countries are really like this? but it looks the same as us!!!". yes, unfortunately the walls of hot and cold war have been impenetrable ever since those 1880s until very recently! today we have the first chances to rediscover our neighbours.

I think bulgarians will especially enjoy listening to the language. It is much lighter to understand for the unaccustomed than standard Serbian, yet familiar words are delivered with a charming softening of the consonants and the quince-taste intonation patterns of the Serbian language! (some local commentators mentioned that the dialect is not performed very well by the non-native to the area actors.)

Heh, almost everyone discusses language! Indeed, as colourful as is the visual, twice as much is the beauty of expression! This is typical for the XIX. century Balkans and for our "national classics" of literature. Unfortunately, it is not humanly possible to translate, but still I warmly recommend Zona Zamfirova to foreigners! Even if you miss on everything else, the brave eye-flirt between the two young, and the excited help of their friends for the good of love will make you remember your own first 'falling in love' and it will have your heart beat!

PS: I speak of myths, but the film is based on a novel of the time (looks like a satire on the then contemporary patriarchal society?), and I am very excited to read it soon!

Zona Zamfirova was shown at a special screening in Toronto, in 2003. There are some bugs to work out, my main pet peeve being the subtitles. I have yet to see a well subtitled film from anywhere in the Balkans, and although using unusual contractions in English words may be a reflection of the particular dialect of the setting, if you don't speak the language (which you don't, because you're reading the subtitles, right?) then you don't appreciate it. Frankly, even for people who speak literary Serbian, the dialect is a stumper... the DVD even gives you non-dialect Serbian subtitles (which are good). Seeing the film made me go back to read the book by Stevan Sremac once again. It is very true to the book. Zona is beautiful, and she is initially snobby - it's a little much to compare her to Paris Hilton, but I think we've all met Zona in high school. If you remember that film and stage require you to 'suspend your disbelief', then you forget that the actress isn't quite 18, and that the lead actor isn't '90210 Pretty' (if you read more literature from the period, and look at some of the art, the male lead conforms to all expectations). You are willing to overlook these things, in order to immerse yourself in the visual beauty of the film. The director was fortunate to be able to film in some historic buildings and locations, and the details are dead on. The costumes are correct, down to the last stitch (sorry about Zona wearing red, but, check the book....), the hills and vineyards and cobblestone streets - it all draws you in, if you let it. Sometimes it's best to just enjoy a movie for what it is - an entertaining escape.

This movie is absolutely fantastic. It is refreshing in so far as only few ego's have been hurt in this film. Usual Balkan cinematography is all about blood and guts, human suffering and death. This is not a documentary movie, this is a feel good movie and any idiot that cannot see this should not comment and have such strong opinion about anything in their sad and pitiful lives. Director Sotra, great job, keep up the good work. Actors are great interpreting time and place but that is the secondary to other points. Film shows and celebrates the tolerance between people (eg. Czechoslovakian Maestro) that despite not understanding him he is integral part of the community. The songs are well played and costumes are elegant. Not to mention that almost everyone, including the supporting extras are "drop dead attractive". The movie depicts warmth and humility of a small community where they know to accept good and bad in people. At the end of the day they are all forgiven and a nice story is here to stay. There are so may nice human points in the movie that only requires closer scrutiny of watching it several times over. I would strongly recommend this film.

The movie it self is as a matter of fact done fairly poorly when it comes to details (bad pronunciation of southern accent by numerous actors, bad acting by some actors, too much synthesized music). The scenery, thou it looks fairly realistic, could have been done much better knowing that the original buildings and streets from that time are still there. However, overall, the story and movie are very good. Music is traditional or well composed to sound similar, acting is in general good, the story telling never goes dull or boring (as a matter of fact it keeps you quite focused), the southern accent gets very amusing.

Maybe not the best movie of all the times but a definitive miss if not seen and a definitive multiple viewing if seen once.