Zona Zamfirova

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!