MovieChat Forums > Welcome to Collinwood (2002) Discussion > What language was Pero speaking?

What language was Pero speaking?

posted 20 years ago by PurpleNiobe
20 replies | jump to latest

Occasionally and briefly during the film, Pero (Sam Rockwell) would speak a different language. As a matter of fact, Det. Babitch even told him to "speak english" at one part. Is Pero Russian or something?

Also, I noticed that everyone in the town had late model cars older outfits. Was the movie suppose to take place in the eighties or something, or was that to show that it was a poor neighborhood where everyone can’t afford to keep up with the latest fashions?

Thanks in advance!

[–] istany 20 years ago

He was speaking in Serbian, Movie took place around late 60's

[–] PurpleNiobe 20 years ago

Thanks!

The late sixties? Really?

[–] jasamluka 20 years ago

Some would say serbo-croatian but no matter.
Babich says:"Niko" meaning "Nobody"
Pero says:"Majke mi" meaning something like "I swear it on my mother`s grave".

[–] PurpleNiobe 20 years ago

Thanks! I figured that what Babich and Pero were saying but it's cool to know exactly.

Do you have any idea what "Pizda" or "Pidza" means? Pero called Rosalind that after she punched him for kissing her.

[–] Waltham 20 years ago

Oh! This is russian round oath, as I know :)
"Pizda" is obscene "vagina", "c u n t", "con". In that context: "Whore" or "Bitch".
Pero made a mistake pronouncing this word. He should make a stress on the last syllable (pizdA) but he made it on the first (pIzda).

[–] PurpleNiobe 20 years ago

istany, jasamluka and Waltham:

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!

[–] ladyannie 19 years ago

i know what it means but it's a pretty naughty word

[–] mechanical_phatness 17 years ago

Some would say serbo-croatian but no matter.

There is no such thing as serbo-croatian any more, check your sources. There is, however, your croatian and your serbian respectively.

[–] bacco76 20 years ago

"Movie took place around late 60's"

And the car-alarm at the beginning of the movie? In US did you have these alarms in the 60's?

[–] JohnnyGoodtimes 20 years ago

Yeah, this movie isn't late 60s. If not for any other reason than because most of Pero's wardrobe looks late 70s. Some of the setting looks old-fashioned, but that's just supposed to give the feeling of the neighborhood. The jail they go to and striped prison clothes reminds me of the 1940s, almost like all the old ganster movies, and so I think the film makers were just trying to create a certain feel.

Thanks to everyone for clearing up some of the lines in other languages. I'm terrible with recognizing different languages and didn't know what they were supposed to be saying or if it was ethnic slang or just if my hearing was off or what.

--"The principles of surgery are the same above and below the neck."--

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

ahh. so that's it. thx.

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.

[–] msc319-1 20 years ago

He is Serbian in the movie. I know the guy who helped Sam learn some words for the movie.

[–] jasamluka 20 years ago

Goran Visnjic of the ER maybe???

In case you want to really insult someone of serbian or croatian origin
best use "pizda ti materina" or "jebem ti mater" ("go *uck your mother").
Or better don´t cause us people tend to get agressive when we hear something
like this. :-)
This concludes our Balkan cursing course.
Cheers guys.

[–] PurpleNiobe 20 years ago

Oh! I just remembered another one I wanted to know...

When Babich first walks in on Jerzey little safe opening class, the group is trying to pretend they’re in a choir. Babich asks what they are doing and Pero says something that sounds like “Mismo aria.” to which Babich growls “In English!” What did Pero say there? I’m assuming it meant, “We’re a choir”, or whatever Pero said after that.

[–] ladyannie 19 years ago

he was speaking serbian

[–] mladomic 18 years ago

He sad : ''Mi smo arija''. But he should say: ''Mi smo kor.''.Arija is somekind of song. Kor is choir.

[–] PurpleNiobe 18 years ago

Thanks!

Two years later I finally get the answer to this!

When the hurly-burly's done. When the battle's lost and won.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SamwiseRulesAll 18 years ago

I must have the best timing ever. I just saw this movie yesterday and I was wondering, especially when I saw you ask a couple posts up, and I noticed it was dated ages ago and the last in that line so I figured it would never be answered and always I would wonder, but forget to ask anyone who would actually know.

But there it is! Oh man.

"In the immortal words of The Doors, 'The time to hesitate is through.'" - Lucas

[–] cedo 18 years ago

Yes, he's supposed to be of a Serbian origin, but his tatoo and pendant on necklace is a russian orthodox cross (Serbian is slightly different) not to mention his bad pronunciation of few serbian words!