Maratonci trce pocasni krug

This is probably the best film in in serbian cinematography, so far. As a matter of fact Yugoslavian Film Academy ranked it number one in the first century of film. Since it was released it has become the definitive cult movie in Serbia. The cast is great, many of highly respected serbian actors took part in the movie. The script is great, and some lines are hilarious (such as Billy Piton's). The script is based on well-known play by Dusan Kovacevic.

With no hard feelings, because there are many great films in the history, but this one should be absolute No.1 Although I regret almost everyday for I was born in this part of Europe, I am blessed to be a native speaker, so I can enjoy movies like this completely. I watched this masterpiece more than 300 times. Characters from this movie are the true heroes in all ex-Yu countries, scenes and comments from this movie you can see in everyday life, on TV, hear on radio stations, because each and every sentence from this movie became legendary. Thanks to all the legends who made this movie, hope they rest in peace, cause unfortunately most of them passed away.... I am not sure when we will have a bunch of such extraordinary actors again...

It is a pity that in spite of it's greatness, the movie is very sensitive to translation ... of language and socio-political environment.

In the magic of the Yugoslav eighties, this film was like something you will never have seen before. The sense of humor those guys had is incredible, comparable only to greatness like Mark Twain, Jaroslav Hasek, Monty Python, in their best years.

Please do also see "Ko to tamo peva" (from two years earlier, same scriptwriter&director).

And remember, if at first you don't succeed.. do yourself a big favor and watch the movie again. Then if you still don't like it, do yourself a bigger favor still and go see 'Airplane II'(also same script,writer&director..) and forget about Serbian comedy.

10/10

Few Serbian films stand up to the standards expected from the Western cinema, but this one cannot be overpraised: everything that's already been said here is true, and then some! A masterpiece in the purest sense of the word.

If re-watchability of a film is one of its major qualities, than this film beats any other that I know of: you can watch it dozens and dozens of time without ever getting bored - it's so funny& profound at the same time.

If you're a Serb, than you certainly already know this film by heart: if you are not, and are intrigued by this praise= by all means try to find it. I hope there is a good translation of its dialogue somewhere, because a lot depends on a quality rendition of the nuances of the actors' words.

I guess there is no any younger Serb who does not know at least one sentence from this movie. This movie is simply the cult. Dialogs and acting are so great that many phrases from this movie are already became part of modern serbian language.

Kovacevic's script is even better then original play. He and that entire generation of actors and moviemakers, have influenced our lives and perception so greatly. The movie is also very educational, it pictures time and mentality of small serbian town during 1930's, better then any other movie.

And finally whole story just never fades away: five generations of Topalovic's are 'crying' because their oldest member and founder of their funeral company, 156 year old Pantelija, has died...

I just worship this movie!