In 2018, a 40th-anniversary screening was held in Murska Sobota (where much of the film was shot). Several cast members attended, now in their 60s, and spoke about how the film changed their lives. Most had not pursued acting careers — they were real teenagers plucked from Ljubljana’s high schools, which added to the film’s raw authenticity.
If you're in Slovenia, the film is sometimes screened at cultural events or retrospectives, such as those at the cinema in Ljubljana. For online viewing, it's occasionally available on international platforms like IMDb TV or Amazon Prime , though availability can change. A search on YouTube might also yield the full film or clips. DVDs can sometimes be found through Slovenian retailers or second-hand sellers.
Jagoda is caught between two boys: Nejc (Roman Goršič), a peer who is intensely in love with her, and Dragi (Metod Pevec), an older, more experienced youth. ko zorijo jagode 1978 ok
: Unlike many conservative films of its era, it is noted for its sentimental and honest portrayal of teenagers discovering their sexuality.
: An interactive overlay of Ljubljana (the film's primary setting) that lets users toggle between 1978 and present-day views of key filming locations, such as school courtyards and neighborhood streets. In 2018, a 40th-anniversary screening was held in
The story follows (played by Irena Kranjc), a 15-year-old girl living in Ljubljana. Her name, "Jagoda," translates directly to "Strawberry," making the title When Strawberries Ripen a metaphor for her transition into womanhood.
| Role | Name | Notability | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Rajko Ranfl | The visionary director who steered the project into controversial waters . | | Screenplay | Ivan Potrč & Branka Jurca | Potrč adapted Jurca's own novel for the screen . | | Music | Jože Privšek | Provided the film's evocative and moody score . | | Jagoda Kopriva | Irena Kranjc | A total newcomer who delivered a raw, natural performance in her debut role . | | Nejc | Roman Goršič | Played the emotionally volatile and tragic Nejc . | | Dragi | Metod Pevec | Portrayed the cool, older love interest whose true colors are eventually revealed . | If you're in Slovenia, the film is sometimes
Her life becomes complicated by teenage flirtations, first kisses, and the inevitable sting of emotional deceptions.
Rajko Ranfl, known for his keen eye for human relationships.
: Downloadable discussion guides for schools focused on 1970s Yugoslavian youth culture, family dynamics, and the universal experience of growing up. Why This Works
However, what truly sealed its legacy was its controversy. Film historian Dr. Peter Stanković described the movie as being shot "in a visual style reminiscent of the softcore erotica at the time" [10†L5-L6]. The most notorious scene features Jagoda in the shower, a moment of self-discovery that was described by the Kinodvor film archive as a "famous – and so controversial, today unimaginable – 'massage'… of fifteen-year-old Jagoda" [13†L20-L22]. This scene, which a modern reviewer on IMDb noted was "quite daring… not to mention the puritan Hollywood," was unprecedented for a youth film [8†L33-L36]. It cemented the film's reputation as a "youth film that sexualized its subject matter," a distinction that makes it a point of reference even today [3†L4-L6].