Slovene Learning Community and Resources

Slovene movies – from classics to contemporary

Popular Slovene movies are a great way to learn the language of Slovenia. Watching movies with English subtitles can help you understand the language better, as you are able to hear the native Slovene words while reading the English translation. It's also a great way to become familiar with the culture and understand the context of the dialogues. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, there are plenty of great movies to choose from. So, grab a bowl of popcorn and get ready to explore Slovenia through the lens of cinema!

KEKEC (1951), SREČNO, KEKEC! (1963), KEKČEVE UKANE (1968)

Kekec movies are a long-running series of Slovene films, featuring the adventures of a courageous and hardworking boy named Kekec. The films have been very popular in Slovenia, and have been enjoyed by generations of viewers. The first Kekec movie was released in 1951. It was based on a novel by Slovene writer Ivan Sivec, and was directed by Jože Gale. The film follows Kekec, a young boy who is determined to make something of himself. He works hard and faces a variety of challenges, but ultimately succeeds in his endeavors. The Kekec movie series is known for its strong moral themes, with Kekec often standing up for what is right, even when it means going against the odds. This has made the films popular with children and adults alike. The films also feature stunning scenery and wonderful music, which adds to their charm and appeal.

The Kekec movie series has spawned several sequels, including Good luck, Kekec! (1963), and Kekec's Tricks (1968). Today, Kekec movies remain hugely popular in Slovenia. They are regularly shown on television, and new generations of children grow up watching the adventures of Kekec. The films have been praised for their positive messages and inspiring stories, and are sure to continue to be enjoyed by viewers

BABICA GRE NA JUG, 1992

Babica gre na jug is a Slovene comedy-drama film from 1992. Free-spirited "grandma" Sara B. escapes at night from the nursing home where her daughter put her. While hitchhiking, she meets the saxophonist David in an old Mercedes who has had a fight with his landlord. They drive towards the sea. David steals jewelry from a sleeping grandmother and goes to a seaside jazz club, where he meets singer Laura. The grandmother who traveled by bus finds him, and he runs away from her again with Laura. Laura charms David and convinces him to return the jewelry. Together, they go to the casino, where the grandmother wins a large sum of money. In the morning, a frightened David finds an unconscious grandmother suffering from diabetes on the floor of a hotel room. Sara regains consciousness in the hospital, which is not good for her daughter, and the three continue their happy adventures.

OUTSIDER, 1997

Outsider is a Slovene drama film from 1997. It is about growing up in Slovenia at the beginning of the 1980s, when politically sensitive times reigned and punk was on the rise. The music for the film was written by Saša Lošić, and songs by the bands Pankrti, Zabranjeno pušenje and Indust-Bag also appear in it.

Sead Mulahasanović is a young man from a mixed family - his father is from Bosnia, and his mother is Slovene. Due to his father's job, the family is constantly moving. The story begins in the fall of 1979 with his arrival in Slovenia, where he continues his education at the Ljubljana high school. At that time, Tito was also brought to the Clinical Center in Ljubljana, which made the situation very tense, and the authorities began to monitor every suspicious event. There he befriends the punks Podgana and Kadunec, through whom he comes into contact with the Ljubljana punk scene, which, due to Tito's illness, also came under the eyes of the authorities. Because of his rebellious style, his society and, as a result, his disrespect for the principles of socialism, he soon encounters problems at school and with his strict father, who wants to send Sead to a military school.

V LERU, 1999

V leru is a Slovene black-and-white full-length drama film from 1999. Eternal student Dizi is lazy, plays cards and watches TV in the dorm. Freshman Marko, a simple and good-natured boy from Trbovlje, who has a pregnant girlfriend Ana, moves into his room. Meanwhile, Dizi's girlfriend Marina is trying to get Dizi to make a commitment, but he would prefer to continue his idle ways. When they go on a trip together, Ana has contractions. The new family melts Dizi's cynicism.

KAJMAK IN MARMELADA, 2003

The movie was seen by 125.000 viewers, which was an absolute record in Slovene cinemas for that time. Branko Đurić received the Velika Zlata Rola award for this achievement.
Božo is Bosnian, Špela is Slovene. She has a job and he doesn't. He spends his days in front of the TV, and only helps her in squandering her meager salary. She loves him immensely, but after an argument in which all her anger, which has been building up for a long time, erupts, she tells him that she is leaving him and that she will not return until she is sure that he has changed and that he will have a salary too. Božo really wants Špela to come back, so he starts looking for a job. He is helped by his acquaintance Goran, who mainly deals with suspicious business. Špela moves in with her parents, who are delighted by the news of the end of their relationship. Her father is a big hater of foreigners and is extremely pleased that his daughter is no longer dating a "southern man"... But Špela loves Božo and he loves her.

PETELINJI ZAJTRK, 2007

Petelinji zajtrk is a Slovene romantic comedy film from 2007. It was written and directed by Marko Naberšnik, who adapted the novel of the same name by Feri Lainšček. It is the third most watched Slovenian film after 1991, happening in the Prekmurje region.
A young boy, Adi Slavinec, known among his friends by the nickname Djuro, gets a job as an apprentice with master Gajaš, the elderly owner of a car repair shop. Gajaš also offers him a small room to stay in, and Djuro moves into it. He establishes an apprentice-master relationship with Gajaš, which slowly turns into a sincere friendship. When she damages her car in a car accident, Bronja, who is married to Lepec, a local pimp and organizer of music events in the area, also goes to the car repair shop. Feelings are awakened between her and Djuro, and the hidden relationship soon takes its toll. Meanwhile, Gajaš dreams of Severina, a Croatian singer who stops in Gornja Radgona on her musical tour of Slovenia. When the opportunity to meet her in person is offered, his heart flutters.

GREMO MI PO SVOJE, 2010; GREMO MI PO SVOJE 2, 2013

Gremo mi po svoje is a Slovene comedy youth film from 2010. It was written and directed by Miha Hočevar. With 208,737 viewers, it is the second most-watched Slovene film after 1991. The movie got a sequel Gremo mi po svoje 2 in 2013.
Aleks and his camp friends are camping by the Soča River. The elder takes scouting and raising children too seriously, causing many comic complications. The fact that the boys are more interested in the neighboring, sports and art camp, where there are mostly really cute girls, than in the scout order and skills, does not help discipline. Many entertaining and emotional plots between interesting children and adult characters take place in the stunningly beautiful locations of the Triglav National Park and become a hymn to nature, a pure child's soul, common sense, love, humor and an optimistic outlook on life.

Which one is your favorite Slovene movie and why?

Can you add a few more?

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