Zona Zamfirova (2002) User Reviews

Very good movie, light and fun

[mandas · 8/10 · 14 February 2004]

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.

Great book, poor move

[valentina_miskovska · 6/10 · 29 August 2005]

Stevan Stremac "Zona Zamfirova" is my favourite book, and to be honest I know the book by hart. You can imagine my delight,when I heard that it will be film made by the book.i couldn't wait to come out. As it happened I made sure I am in Belgrade for the Opening Nite.What a disappointment!!! The actors where good at doing their lines, but the real Zone(from the book) has blond hair and Mane is taller. As for Doka the one of the main characters, she is totally different type of person. The actress which plays Doka, tried and brought Doka to life but not the "real"Doka. The only properly casted characters are Hadzi Zamfir and his wife. I was totally disappointed with the execution of the film. Also the sweep of the camera, as there was lots of 21st centuries features in the takes.But we are talking about NIsh in the XIX century. Parts of the book were totally cut out but they are crucial to understanding the romance between Mane and Zone. The only thing I liked where the costumes and the music, although half of the songs in the book are not featured. All in all very poor film made of a brilliant book.It is a shame, as another Stremac book (Pop Chira i Pop Spira)was made into a serial some 25yrs ago with Djordje and Olja Balashevich(and they are not actors, Dj.Balashevich is well known singer in ex YU)and to this day is considered one of the best film/serial of Stremac's books.

Great movie

[istoimenov · 6 May 2004]

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!

A well done period movie

[astosic · 10/10 · 18 July 2004]

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.

festivalous!

[gospodinBezkrai · 9/10 · 16 February 2006]

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!

Great film

[spopovic-1 · 9/10 · 15 July 2006]

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 only good thing about the movie is its music.

[katja-zerko · 4/10 · 29 October 2003]

As the film was so successful in its home country, I went to see it with big expectations. I like the Serbian production very much, even thou its films are mostly about war. That is another reason why I thought this one is worth seeing, as the story is about love.

But what a disappointment! The story is week and the happy end is much tooo mawkish.The only good thing about the movie is its music.

Very funny and entertaining movie.

[janap · 10/10 · 4 December 2002]

This movie was made by book of one of the most popular Serbian writers, Stevan Sremac. This movie is very funny and entertaining. It is about two young people who fall in love but their love is not possible because of many differences, first social and the a few family disputes. But in the end the love wins. Thing that makes this movie special is it's cultural presentation of Serbish culture and customs. Music is one of the most significant factors of this movie. Connection of the future and the past is thing that make the music so special. Although this movie is simple and very "light" it is one of the best movies made in these territories in post war period. It is one of rare movies that has non-war thematic. It is not ruined by typical national hate and disputes. I believe that first Sremac, and then Sotra managed to create our Romeo and Juliet in characters of Mane and Zona. Great performances by leading and other actors and many others mentioned factors created a little master peace that can present Serbs in new light in the world. Young leading actors, Mr. Cetkovic and Miss Radivojevic, were great in performing their roles.

Shame for Serbian filmography

[Mercuzio80 · 1/10 · 24 March 2005]

This movie is shame for Serbia. Zdravko Sotra is killer of Serbian movie. Everything is miserable. Stevan Sremac wrote "Zona Zamfirova" as beautiful love story set in one small village. In movie seems like the village is one street. Katarina Radivojevic as Zone is Paris Hilton. She is a snob. She isn't the most beautiful girl in village (check Sloboda Micalovic, her sister). She is poor actress. Vojin Cetkovic as Mane is pale. Everybody speaks with south-Serbian dialect but Nikola Djuricko as soldier no. Why? Movie didn't catch the spirit of Serbian small village of that time. Sotra will continue to make movies like this because most people in Serbia is culturally degenerated.

Best movie I have ever watched

[galiaig · 10/10 · 26 March 2004]

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.

subtitles

[andjelko-2 · 15 January 2007]

I've just watched Zona Zamfirova and enjoyed it from start to finish. Dragan Nikolic is one of my favorite actors because he really assumes any role he is assigned. Costumes, scenery, music were fabulous. I speak Serbian, though of course, found the dialect hard to follow, so I clicked on the English subtitles. Lamentable! I almost had more trouble understanding the subtitles than the Serbian. It would appear that the translator didn't bother to even look up some English words. What is a "cytek"? And to use "kum" and "dever" as if everyone understands is really inexcusable. There are lots of good translators here--why did the producers stint on paying to find a good one??

Great movie

[filip999 · 10/10 · 12 January 2004]

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

This film is a true celebration of life

[ivantashev-43-126117 · 10/10 · 10 October 2014]

I admit I came across this film entirely by chance while changing the channels on my TV. I had absolutely no idea that this is in fact a film classic of Serbian cinema (I don't know how I have missed a film like this for such a long time). In my opinion the best test as to whether a film is good or bad is to simply give the viewers a remote control in their hands and see whether they still choose to continue watching it. Well "Zona Zamfirova" was one of those rare films that immediately grabbed my attention. Every minute of this film is saturated with the tender sense of beauty and passion of its creators. I watched it four days ago and since then I haven't been able to stop thinking about it… The music of the film is mesmerizing! I like exactly this kind of Balkan music – with slightly modernistic interpretation of traditional folk tunes, which keeps the spirit and the beauty of the original prototype. The music is very emotional and matches and supports perfectly the vision of the film. The script and the directing are superb. The whole film is done in retro style. The actors deliberately overact a little bit – as a nod to the way the actors acted in theatre productions at the beginning of last century. Frankly speaking this is the best way to do this story. If you make the actors act in a totally realistic way, following the principles of method acting, the film would look flat and unconvincing. You have to keep the acting a little exaggerated in order to create this sense of fairy-tale-like story that has happened a long time ago. The camera work is in perfect harmony with this notion. The film is beautifully shot and is edited skillfully. The camera often zooms in on details from the everyday life of the people which gives richness to the background and to the story. All the scenes are kept fairly short and are pieced together in such a way that the story flows effortlessly and beautifully just like the music and the songs. The characters are well constructed and acted – they represent a glorious depiction of women that are full of feminine energy and men that are totally in touch with their masculine nature. This creates electric polarity between the characters and is very appealing to watch. The film overflows with joy and happiness. If you have watched the film of Kenneth Branagh "Much Ado About Nothing" you will certainly remember the bath scene. The public bath (the hamam) scene in "Zona Zamfirova", and in fact the whole film, is filled with exactly the same energy, joy and sex appeal. I did see some weak points in the film – mainly the occasional fake-looking sets and too clean and sleek costumes, but I did not find this a real drawback because the film does not pretend to be a fully realistic one. It rather gives the viewer a similar sense that you get in a theatre hall – you know that this cardboard castle on the stage is not a real castle and the man with the crown is not a real king, but you somehow ignore this fact and believe that this IS a castle and this IS a king. In conclusion I think that this is a superb film, done by a very skillful team of people all of whom have an eye, an ear and a heart for the beautiful and the meaningful. This film is a true celebration of life!

profane work of art

[zlaja70 · 2/10 · 2 March 2006]

I expected a lot from this movie, since it was a first work of Serbian movie industry that tried what English are doing for years: turning novels of 18th and 19th century into films. But I think that director Zdravko Sotra failed. It was his first "real" movie, since he only directed TV films before and the camera positioning and set is as seen in TV film. He cannot take the advantages of wide screen! He tried to give an atmosphere of 19th century Serbia but I believe he managed it only partially. Although he had quite a high budget, it gave an appearance of a TV series! He had a set of excellent Serbian actors but the script made them look silly! It was hard to sit in cinema for 2 hours and watch this movie. At home, you can watch it while you make lunch or read some magazine. Otherwise: not recommended!

A definitive "must see"

[djenka018 · 9/10 · 9 January 2005]

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.

doZe Zone

[Pro Jury · 2/10 · 5 February 2004]

100 years ago back in the old country, little Zona watches her older sisters marry and move from home. Eventually, Zona becomes old enough to either leave home to obtain a formal education at a university, or have her father find a husband for her to marry. ZONA ZAMFIROVA tells the story of Zona finding her husband.

As the husband-seeking unfolds, Zona is 17 or 18 years old. However, the actress playing Zona is 23 and looks even older. We are asked to believe that Zona is the most beautiful girl in all the province. Unfortunately, Zona looks slightly more geeky than sexy. Zona looks slightly more nerdy than beautiful. Zona almost always wears bright red, but it only makes her stand out in an unflattering way. Worse, Zona carries herself with the utmost arrogance and snobbery. Zona is from the richest family in the province, and Zona knows it! Zona is the Paris Hilton of her day.

During the first half of the film it seems we viewers are being guided to dislike Zona and wish for her downfall. But ZONA ZAMFIROVA is meant to be a conventional love story, not a character study about a snob failing at love.

We are asked to believe that the guy Zona is chasing, Mane, is the most handsome man in the province. However, Mane looks to be a clone of the nerdy actor who was in that nasal spray commercial all throughout the 1970's. Yes, Mane and Zona appear to be an OK match, but they should go about mating with 100 times less arrogance... Please!

The English subtitles are presented with lots and lots of odd contractions... "The g'rl c'n go to s'hool." Also, a single line of subtitle often displays the speech of two characters without attributing who is saying what. ZONA ZAMFIROVA is not an offense to movie making, but it has very little to offer.

Language matter

[rajkovic · 12 October 2004]

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.

Serbian passion

[rajkovic · 15 February 2004]

The film is surely excellent but one should know the culture, feel emotions and do understand time which Stevan Sremac wrote about. The music is beautiful. Zona is Serbian Queen. The person that laughed on difference in age/Zona from the novel should be 16/ has to know that Serbian woman reach maturity early but I suppose it is easy to laugh when somebody does not belong to own culture. The film is mild, soft, and gentle as wind near Nishava. Yes, the story tells: what a Serb decides it is his he takes and he does not care how much does it cost. I would recommend the film to all romantics.