levels that manages what seems like an impossible task: balancing the tragic history of its home nation with a sense of legitimate magic and wonder". He has further praise for director Stojanovic and the "stunning visuals". Finally, he glows about the movie feeling like "a Grimms' fairy tale come to life, a world where magic exists but is also accompanied by darkness, death, sex and more". Movie City Newss David Poland penned a generally affirmative review, summing up the movie as "a fairy tale filled with dark jokes, estrogen, sex, and explosions". He further notices the film's style "that reaches beyond Gilliam with a profoundly Eastern European sensibility and a fascinating approach to the idea of the feminine" as well as predicts that with this film Stojanovic has become one of the "next hot candidates for a Hollywood slot". United States Very soon after the satisfactory buzz and attention Tears for Sale got at the Toronto International Film Festival, news appeared that the movie would get a theater release in the United States. The film's promotion in the United States began months earlier in March 2008, without it even being available for viewing in American cinemas or festivals. Its main selling point at that stage was the political upheaval in Serbia at the time with parliamentary elections being held following a government's fall after the independence of Kosovo, all of which led to the Los Angeles Times publishing a large piece about the movie written by its staff writer Tracy Wilkinson. In June 2008, another American publication took notice. The review in Variety by Alissa Simon also touches on politics as she sees the movie as "a postmodern allegorical tale" which "succeeds in poking fun at various Serbian national myths and symbols with its strong, lusty, independent women, eager-to-fight men and sacrilegious shenanigans in a hearse and among tombstones". Among praises for the visuals and special effects, she admits that the movie "will require careful handling and critical support to reach international audiences". American audiences had a chance to see the movie on January 27, 2009 at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The film also won a general admiration at the Syracuse International Film Festival (Syracuse, New York) on April 28, 2009. France On August 12, 2009, the movie had its theatrical release in France. It was shown with the name Charleston et Vendette, under the slogan "La chasse