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IMDbPro

Zift

  • 20082008
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5.1K
YOUR RATING
Zift (2008)
A man wrongfully convicted of murder is released into an unfamiliar world
Play trailer1:14
1 Video
37 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
Moth is freed on parole after spending time in prison on wrongful conviction of murder. Jailed shortly before the Bulgarian communist coup of 1944, he now finds himself in a new and alien wo... Read allMoth is freed on parole after spending time in prison on wrongful conviction of murder. Jailed shortly before the Bulgarian communist coup of 1944, he now finds himself in a new and alien world - the totalitarian Sofia of the 60s. His first night of freedom draws the map of a dia... Read allMoth is freed on parole after spending time in prison on wrongful conviction of murder. Jailed shortly before the Bulgarian communist coup of 1944, he now finds himself in a new and alien world - the totalitarian Sofia of the 60s. His first night of freedom draws the map of a diabolical city full of decaying neighborhoods, gloomy streets and a bizarre parade of charac... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Javor Gardev
  • Writer
    • Vladislav Todorov(novel)
  • Stars
    • Zachary Baharov
    • Tanya Ilieva
    • Vladimir Penev
Top credits
  • Director
    • Javor Gardev
  • Writer
    • Vladislav Todorov(novel)
  • Stars
    • Zachary Baharov
    • Tanya Ilieva
    • Vladimir Penev
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 20 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos1

    Zift
    Trailer 1:14
    Zift

    Photos37

    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)
    Zift (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Zachary Baharov
    Zachary Baharov
    • Moth
    • (as Zahary Baharov)
    Tanya Ilieva
    • Ada
    Vladimir Penev
    • Slug
    Mihail Mutafov
    • Van Wurst-the Eye
    Djoko Rosic
    • Priest
    • (as Djoko Rossich)
    Tsvetan Dimitrov
    • Sergeant Major
    Dimo Alexiev
    Dimo Alexiev
    • Private
    Jordan Mutafov
    • Bijou
    Hristo Peev
    • Warden 1
    Vasil Ryahov
    • Warden 2
    Veselin Mezekliev
    • Warden 3
    Ivo Krastev
    • Superintendent
    Dimitar Dimitrov
    • Mole Cricket
    Yavor Vesselinov
    Yavor Vesselinov
    • Valentine
    Dj Ayvan
    • Freak
    • (as DJ Ayvan)
    Krum Netzov
    • Rachitis
    Stefan Stefanov
    • Inmate - Boxer
    Marin Nakov
    • Inmate - Coach
    • Director
      • Javor Gardev
    • Writer
      • Vladislav Todorov(novel) (script)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scenes set in the 1960s were shot in 35mm, the scenes set in the 1940s were shot in 16mm, and the scenes set earlier than that were shot in 8mm.
    • Connections
      Featured in Balkan Spirit (2013)

    User reviews25

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    High on Literary and Artistic Value, but low on Visual and Thematic Value
    It didn't have an Oscar nomination(for the best foreign language award) this year, still Zift is a crowning and epoch making epic movie for Bulgaria and Eastern/North-Eastern Europe. Hence, in the years ahead this movie will be mentioned often for its contemporary style, modern cinema language and creative editing.

    Centering on a criminal, nicknamed as "Moth", the story is taken from a novel and is adapted to screenplay from its own novelist. Director Javor Gardev features Moth being a self-respecting and chivalrous Bulgarian, reflecting the character of his country under Communism. As such from the literary perspective, personification has applied to Bulgaria. Despite all of his relatives and friends leaving him alone, and his wife wounding his pride; he has never held his head down.

    Not only the past of his country, the writer also reflects the present and the future of Bulgaria within the same literary perspective in a dark utopia, or a neo-noir(film-noir). The screenplay of Zift is very focused and detail-oriented on a simple storyline. The concept of the whole storyline is the sum of Moth's escape to freedom, his short-term memories, the stories he heard from his friends, how he is losing his last hope and how he dies. There we can realize obviously that the main purpose of the movie is not to tell, but is to impress. Director Gardev leaked impacts from Fellini's, Emir Kusturica's and Danny Boyle's cinematic methods. On the other hand, I don't include Frank Miller in this list; since Sin City and Zift has nothing in common but the cinematography. On the level of artistic value, Zift has more value than its comparisons.

    Even though it's resembling several industrial box-office hits, the screenplay is truly original; considering that a novel writer has prepared the whole script from his own adaptation, you will see the total commitment of creating this epic by the production crew. There are scenes of violence, nudity, sexuality, perversity, immorality and enormity. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. It's only suitable for mature viewers and minor groups.
    helpful•32
    7
    • CihanVercan
    • May 13, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 25, 2008 (Bulgaria)
    • Country of origin
      • Bulgaria
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Rottentomatoes
    • Language
      • Bulgarian
    • Also known as
      • Zift: En gangsters historia
    • Filming locations
      • Bulgaria
    • Production companies
      • Bulgarian National Film Center
      • Bulgarian National Television
      • Miramar Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • BGL 1,200,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $189,486
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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