ALIVE/Austin Film Society

Back to Essential Cinemas Films of Southeast Europe this evening with a film out of Albania written and directed in 2009 by Artan Minarolli.  A beautifully shot film with a gorgeous leading man, Nik Xhelilaj, and a disturbing story of blood feuds. Many Albanians live in countryside villages where these feuds are arbitrated by local intermediaries. The  lead character is a happy college student far removed from his village when he is brought back into the fold  when his dad dies, and he is informed of an old vendetta that has to be paid in blood.  We follow him as he tries to duck, hide and bide time while elusive people try to undo this "curse."  He learns to trust no one and is rightfully suspicious of even those he is sent to live with.  We're happy to see him return to his university life one more time before the feud is brought back to him and in his attempt to escape that world tragedy strikes. Abe and I were stunned by the ending of this film.  It's a beautiful and important film about Albania, very disturbing.