Zona Zamfirova

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!

It is a great comedy and excellent love drama The music in the movie is good too and the girls are great. It is a drama about live in Nis (Serbia) 1906 after Ottoman occupation and the customs in that period. It is for sure a movie worth watching

I agree the English translation is poor. I see just one possible reason: unfamiliarity with the dialect that actors speak. Serbs in general speak well English and people that work as translators are highly professionals. I guess they simple did not understand what actors tell. Actors speak the mixture of old Slavic and Serbian with many Turkish words. I am a lucky one I do understand and speak the dialect that differs from Serbian literary language. However if we move forward from the language issue one can for instance notice: excellent costumes, music, actors that perfectly match to that time and events. One always can find weaknesses but we should search for good in all.

This is my first comment for a movie, and what made me write this is a comment by another viewer. I'll take a wild guess and assume that viewer is not from these parts of the world, if he is, he would know that translating Zona on English is practically impossible. People who done it should get credit just for doing it. The dialect used in a movie is very old, and unfortunately almost forgotten.

As for the movie I found it very entertaining. I read a book a long time ago and I remembered thinking that it was a beautiful story. Actors are good, but like in all movies they can be better. Considering that most of the casting is very young, including two major roles, they have done an excellent job.

Director put him self to the limit trying to make it authentic as much as possible and I personally think that he has done a very good job. I know some people from the town of Nis (city where everything happened), and they told me that they liked the movie. That's good enough for me.

I strongly recommend, don't miss this movie.

I have watched the movie over fifteen times and I would never get tired of watching it. It is so brilliant - happy and sad at the same time. The actors are great especially Vojin Cetkovic. The love story is very interesting and everybody is happy at the end. That is what I like most about the movie-interesting story and great acting. It is a drama and comedy at the same time as well. The comical elements are so funny I almost could not stop laughing and the sad moments made me feel so close to the actors that I almost cried. I was very reserved about this movie when I fist heard about it. But when I watched it for first time I was amazed I could not believe my eyes I have watched so beautiful movie.