Zelary

Critics Consensus

Zelary is a satisfyingly old-fashioned romance with an epic sweep.

91%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 2,635

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Zelary Photos

A scene from the film ZELARY, directed by Ondifej Trojan.

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Movie Info

Two lovers -- a nurse named Eliska (Anna Geislerová) and a surgeon, Richard (Ivan Trojan) -- join the resistance in Czechoslovakia during World War II. When they are discovered, the couple must separate and hide. Joza (György Cserhalmi), one of Eliska's patients, agrees to take her to an isolated cabin in the small mountain village of Zelary until she can reunite with Richard. But Eliska and Joza end up living together for two years and take on the persona of husband and wife.

Rating:

R (Some Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre:

war, romance, drama
Original Language:

Czech
Director:

Ondrej Trojan
Producer:

Ondrej Trojan
Release Date (Theaters):

Oct 4, 2004 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Feb 8, 2005
Box Office (Gross USA):

$329.7K
Runtime:

2h 30m
Production Co:

Czech TV, Barrandov Studio, ALEF Film & Media Group
Sound Mix:

Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio:

Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Anna Geislerová
Eliska , Hana

György Cserhalmi
Joza

Jaroslava Adamová
Lucka

Miroslav Donutil
Priest

Jaroslav Dusek
Teacher Tkác

Iva Bittová
Zena

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Zelary

All Critics (51) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (14)

The story is as basic as a peasant meal -- and just as hearty.

December 2, 2004 | Rating: 3/4

Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
Sometimes transcends its predictability. But at two and a half hours, 'sometimes' isn't really often enough.

November 19, 2004 | Rating: 3/5

Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
By the time it's over you find yourself wondering why more films don't have the chutzpah to delve deeper into the battle-weary heart.

November 7, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
Humble, heartwarming storytelling with good acting and lush visuals.

October 29, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Janice Page
Boston Globe
See it as a war romance, and you'll like it.

October 22, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Marta Barber
Miami Herald
Trojan's direction is capable, and Asen Sopov's dark-hued cinematography is even better than that. The only thing missing is an appreciation for drama that does more than deliver the expected.

October 15, 2004 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Peter Howell
Toronto Star
...may seem long and solemn to those used to the pacy rhythms of Hollywood films, but the sense of ennui it occasionally evokes strengthens its grip

January 8, 2005 | Rating: B+

Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Here's a film that manages to tell its tale without pandering, without cheap melodrama, without gimmicks and without big-name stars. Instead, it simply develops its characters and lets the drama unfold naturally.

December 10, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

Jeff Vice
Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
When it should be building toward something stirring, Zelary instead meanders like the sheep grazing on the nearby hillsides.

December 10, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Sean P. Means
Salt Lake Tribune
[E]schews... sentimentality, but we've seen this story too many times before...

December 6, 2004 | Full Review…

MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
Offers a wide span of emotions and experiences.

November 29, 2004 | Rating: 8/10

Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
A detailed tale well told.

November 18, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Richard C. Walls
Orlando Weekly

View All Critic Reviews (51)

Audience Reviews for Zelary

Apr 08, 2009

From the Czech Republic came Zelary a masterful war drama showing heart-breaking scenes, no wonder it was nominated for best Foreign Language movie in 2004.The story was about a young medical student Eliska, who was a member of the Czech resistance during WWII. When the Gestapo captured one of her friends, she must hide and went with Joza to the mountains, a man she saved his life by giving him a blood transfusion. As part of her new identity, she must marry Joza, to be accepted in the village.The story showed her adaptation in this beautiful mountain village, and her growing attachment and love she felt for Joza..Zelary showed beautiful cinematography, marvelous music and excellent directing and great acting of Czech actors.

Daisy M Super Reviewer