Zelary Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)October 4th, 2004
ZELARY
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2004 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
ZELARY, an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film of 2003, is a Czech movie about an arranged marriage. Set in Czechoslovakia during World War II, the story concerns a premed student named Eliska (Anna Geislerová), who works as a nurse and, in secret, as a freedom fighter for the underground resistance.
When Eliska's cover is blown in the first few minutes of the film, she is given the new of identity of Hana and sent to a very remote mountain village to live with Joza (György Cserhalmi), a nice man but someone who is her complete opposite. Eliska is a sophisticated and refined city woman, whereas the older Joza is something of a big uncommunicative bumpkin. But, as I'm sure you've already guessed, what he lacks in social skills he makes up for with his big heart and with his gentle but protective demeanor.
The village has a strict sense of morals, so that, if Hana is to stay with Joza, she must marry him, which she does reluctantly but quickly. The vast majority of the story has nothing to do with the war and everything to do with daily life in the tiny mountain community. Very little happens in their bucolic setting, but there are some scary episodes involving a stepfather who beats his son and a drunken local who thinks Hana is fair game for his forced sexual advances since the entire village is hiding her. Two important messages from the film concern the danger of chugalugging vodka and the commonality of the barbarism of both the Nazis and the Communists.
An old fashioned melodrama with dramatic music to match, ZELARY is touching but too long. With just the right amount of material for an hour-and-a-half film, it is, needlessly, allowed to drag on for two and a half. Still, if you have the patience to stay with it, ZELARY is a rewarding experience.
ZELARY runs 2:30. The film is in Czech, Russian and German with English subtitles. It is rated R for "violence and some sexual content" and would be acceptable for teenagers.
The film is playing in nationwide release now in the United States. In the Silicon Valley, it is showing at the Camera Cinemas.
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Email: Steve.Rhodes@InternetReviews.com
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