Zona Zamfirova

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.

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.

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

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.