Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- oppressive
- sardonic
- surreal
- late night viewing
- arthouse movie night
What critics said
Critics and audiences broadly regard the film as a stylish, distinctive Bulgarian neo-noir with a compelling lead performance and strong atmosphere.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film is explicitly identified as neo-noir and places its wrongful-conviction protagonist in a decaying, shadowy Sofia.
Moth emerges from prison into a totalitarian 1960s Sofia after being jailed before the 1944 communist coup.
Moth's first night maps gloomy streets, ruined neighborhoods, and a bizarre parade of characters across Sofia.
Moth was imprisoned for a murder he did not commit and must navigate the consequences after parole.
Films like Zift, and why
The Third Man
shared neo-noir atmosphere, morally compromised characters, and oppressive urban fatalism
Aakrosh
shared blackly comic crime plotting, stylized noir visuals, and a protagonist navigating corrupt social systems
The Trial
shared prison-release premise, existential alienation, and bleakly surreal crime drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Javor Gardev
- Release Date
- 2008-06-27
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (60)
Cast
- Zahari Baharov
- Tanya Ilieva
- Vladimir Penev
- Mihail Mutafov
- Tsvetan Dimitrov
- Djoko Rosic
- Dimo Alexiev
- Jordan Mutafov
- Yavor Vesselinov
- Hristo Peev
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Zift about?
- A wrongfully imprisoned man’s first night in communist Sofia becomes a delirious neo-noir descent through corruption, memory, and urban decay.
- What is Zift like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Zift as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Zift violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Zift as moderate.
- What did critics think of Zift?
- Critics and audiences broadly regard the film as a stylish, distinctive Bulgarian neo-noir with a compelling lead performance and strong atmosphere.
- Which films are like Zift?
- Films with a similar feel include The Third Man, Aakrosh, and The Trial.
- How long is Zift?
- Zift runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Zift?
- In United States, Zift streams on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now.
