Cinema of Albania
Encyclopedia
The cinema of Albania
had its start in the years 1911—1912.
and Korçë
; these showings were of foreign films. The first Albanian films were mostly documentaries, the first film being about the Monastir Congress that sanctioned the Albanian alphabet
in 1908.
, the communist government
founded the Albanian Film Institute in 1945, which became Kinostudio Shqipëria e Re in 1952. This was followed by the first Albanian epic film, Skënderbeu
, a cooperation with Soviet
artists chronicling the life and fight of Albanian national hero Skanderbeg. The film won an award from the Cannes Film Festival
. Two other known films from the time are Fëmijët e saj (Her sons) and Tana. Tana is known as the first Albanian movie, and also as the first movie that has a kiss scene in the history of the Albanian movies.
In the 1960s, films concentrated mostly on the subject of the World War II
occupation of Albanian by Italian
and German
armies and the fight for liberation. The movies had strong positive connotation towards the communist partisans and bad connotation toward the forces of Balli Kombëtar
, and they are viewed as state propaganda. Some of the directors of the time were Dhimitër Anagnosti
, Viktor Gjika, Gëzim Erebara
, and Piro Milkani.
In the 1970s, there was a drastic reduction in the number of imported movies as a result of the cultural and political isolationist campaign by the state. This resulted in an increase of production in movies to five or six a year early on and up to 8 or 10 a year by the end of the decade, peaking at 14 movies a year in the 1980s. The genre of movies was also diversified to include dramatic as well as family and children movies. Two the movies of the time were Beni ecën vetë
, directed by Xhanfize Keko in 1975, and the comedy Kapedani, directed by Fehmi Hoshafi and Muharrem Fejzo in 1972. A new cadre of directors of the time was composed by Rikard Ljarja, Sajmir Kumbaro, Ibrahim Muçaj
, Kristaq Mitro
, and Esat Mysliu. This period also marked the start of artistic and made-for-TV movies such as Udha e shkronjave, a movie directed by V. Prifti in 1978.
Some Albanian movies made during the 1980s were Ballë për ballë
; directed by Kujtim Çashku
and Pirro Milkani in 1979; Dora e ngrohtë, directed by Kujtim Çashku in 1983; Agimet e stinës së madhe, directed by Albert Minga in 1981; Kohë e largët, directed by Spartak Pecani in 1983; and Tela për violinë, directed by Bujar Kapexhiu in 1987.
In the 1970s and 1980s, there were also 20—40 documentaries produced that dealt in cultural elements as well as propaganda. This period also saw the birth of animated films, with Zana dhe Miri by V. Droboniku and T. Vaso in 1975; animated films numbered around 16 a year.
These cinematic works were the result of a great cooperative effort by the Kinostudio, various directors, writers, composers, actors as well as influences by the state that formed an entire industry. By 1990, about 200 movies had been produced. By the end of the 1980s, Albania had over 450 theaters. However, most of the equipment was aging and disintegrating.
to a more democratic one led to a big change in the Albanian cinema. The big conglomerate Kinostudio of old was broken up into several smaller studios, movies started to be produced in private studios by the old directors and even some foreign ones, but in conjunction with the new National Center of Cinematography (Qendra Kombëtare e Kinematografisë).
Although new movies are being produced, many Albanians have returned to watching and enjoying the old movies, now shown on the various private television stations. The old propagandistic elements are now more a source of comedy than hate, and the early style is much appreciated.
Some of the most acclaimed recent movies include Kolonel Bunker, Parullat (Slogans), Dasma e Sakos, Tirana Year Zero
, and Porta Eva.
In the late 1990s, many new cinema theaters were built, especially in the bigger cities (such as "Millennium" in the capital city of Tirana
) that mostly show western and more prominently American
movies.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
had its start in the years 1911—1912.
Early years
The first public showing to occur in Albania was a little known title, Paddy the Reliable; a comical story detailing the afterlife events of a man who was so distracted by trivial matters that he was unable to attend his own funeral. These showings began in the cities of ShkodërShkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
and Korçë
Korçë
Korçë is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people , making it the sixth largest city in Albania...
; these showings were of foreign films. The first Albanian films were mostly documentaries, the first film being about the Monastir Congress that sanctioned the Albanian alphabet
Albanian alphabet
The modern Albanian alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet, and consists of 36 letters:Note: The vowels are shown in bold. to the pronunciation of the letters.-History:...
in 1908.
The Communist period
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the communist government
Communist state
A communist state is a state with a form of government characterized by single-party rule or dominant-party rule of a communist party and a professed allegiance to a Leninist or Marxist-Leninist communist ideology as the guiding principle of the state...
founded the Albanian Film Institute in 1945, which became Kinostudio Shqipëria e Re in 1952. This was followed by the first Albanian epic film, Skënderbeu
The Great Warrior Skanderbeg
The Great Warrior Skanderbeg is a 1953 Albanian-Soviet drama film directed by Sergei Yutkevich. It was entered into the 1954 Cannes Film Festival where it earned the International Prize...
, a cooperation with Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
artists chronicling the life and fight of Albanian national hero Skanderbeg. The film won an award from the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
. Two other known films from the time are Fëmijët e saj (Her sons) and Tana. Tana is known as the first Albanian movie, and also as the first movie that has a kiss scene in the history of the Albanian movies.
In the 1960s, films concentrated mostly on the subject of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
occupation of Albanian by Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
armies and the fight for liberation. The movies had strong positive connotation towards the communist partisans and bad connotation toward the forces of Balli Kombëtar
Balli Kombëtar
Balli Kombëtar was an Albanian nationalist, anti-communist and anti-monarchy organization established in October 1939. It was led by Ali Këlcyra and Mit’hat Frashëri...
, and they are viewed as state propaganda. Some of the directors of the time were Dhimitër Anagnosti
Dhimitër Anagnosti
Dhimitër Anagnosti is probably the most important Albanian film director of the 20th century. He was a member of the Parliament of Albania in the 1990s and a Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports...
, Viktor Gjika, Gëzim Erebara
Gëzim Erebara
Gezim Erebara was an Albanian film director, screen player, translator and cinematography historian of the second half of the 20th century...
, and Piro Milkani.
In the 1970s, there was a drastic reduction in the number of imported movies as a result of the cultural and political isolationist campaign by the state. This resulted in an increase of production in movies to five or six a year early on and up to 8 or 10 a year by the end of the decade, peaking at 14 movies a year in the 1980s. The genre of movies was also diversified to include dramatic as well as family and children movies. Two the movies of the time were Beni ecën vetë
Beni Ecën Vetë
Beni walks by himself is a 1975 Albanian children's film directed by Xhanfize Keko and written by Kiço Blushi.-Cast:*Herion Spiro*Yllka Mujo*Dhorkë Orgocka*Pandi Raidhi*Gjergj Sollaku...
, directed by Xhanfize Keko in 1975, and the comedy Kapedani, directed by Fehmi Hoshafi and Muharrem Fejzo in 1972. A new cadre of directors of the time was composed by Rikard Ljarja, Sajmir Kumbaro, Ibrahim Muçaj
Ibrahim Muçaj
Ibrahim Muçaj is an Albanian film director. He directed Apasionata in 1983 with Kristaq Mitro.-References:...
, Kristaq Mitro
Kristaq Mitro
Kristaq Mitro is an Albanian film director. He directed Apasionata in 1983 with Ibrahim Muçaj.-Filmography:* Një djalë edhe një vajzë * Telefoni i një mëngjesi * Duaje emrin tënd...
, and Esat Mysliu. This period also marked the start of artistic and made-for-TV movies such as Udha e shkronjave, a movie directed by V. Prifti in 1978.
Some Albanian movies made during the 1980s were Ballë për ballë
Ballë për Ballë
Face to Face is a 1979 Albanian drama film directed by Kujtim Çashku and based on a novel by Ismail Kadare.-Cast:*Katerina Biga*Rajmonda Bulku*Thimi Filipi*Timo Flloko*Arben Imami*Bujar Lako*Sulejman Pitarka...
; directed by Kujtim Çashku
Kujtim Çashku
Kujtim Çashku is an Albanian film director and screenwriter who has won numerous awards at international film festivals, including the Critics Prize at the 1996 Bastia Mediterranean Film Festival and the UNESCO Award at the 1998 Venice Film Festival for Colonel Bunker, the Best Screenplay Award,...
and Pirro Milkani in 1979; Dora e ngrohtë, directed by Kujtim Çashku in 1983; Agimet e stinës së madhe, directed by Albert Minga in 1981; Kohë e largët, directed by Spartak Pecani in 1983; and Tela për violinë, directed by Bujar Kapexhiu in 1987.
In the 1970s and 1980s, there were also 20—40 documentaries produced that dealt in cultural elements as well as propaganda. This period also saw the birth of animated films, with Zana dhe Miri by V. Droboniku and T. Vaso in 1975; animated films numbered around 16 a year.
These cinematic works were the result of a great cooperative effort by the Kinostudio, various directors, writers, composers, actors as well as influences by the state that formed an entire industry. By 1990, about 200 movies had been produced. By the end of the 1980s, Albania had over 450 theaters. However, most of the equipment was aging and disintegrating.
Postcommunist films
During the 1990s, the change of the communist form of governmentCommunist state
A communist state is a state with a form of government characterized by single-party rule or dominant-party rule of a communist party and a professed allegiance to a Leninist or Marxist-Leninist communist ideology as the guiding principle of the state...
to a more democratic one led to a big change in the Albanian cinema. The big conglomerate Kinostudio of old was broken up into several smaller studios, movies started to be produced in private studios by the old directors and even some foreign ones, but in conjunction with the new National Center of Cinematography (Qendra Kombëtare e Kinematografisë).
Although new movies are being produced, many Albanians have returned to watching and enjoying the old movies, now shown on the various private television stations. The old propagandistic elements are now more a source of comedy than hate, and the early style is much appreciated.
Some of the most acclaimed recent movies include Kolonel Bunker, Parullat (Slogans), Dasma e Sakos, Tirana Year Zero
Tirana Year Zero
Tirana Year Zero , is a 2002 Albanian film that tells the story of a young couple in post-communist Albania, at a time when many Albanians left the country in search for a better life abroad. The protagonist of the movie is Nik, who lives in the capital of Albania, Tirana, along with his mother and...
, and Porta Eva.
In the late 1990s, many new cinema theaters were built, especially in the bigger cities (such as "Millennium" in the capital city of Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
) that mostly show western and more prominently American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
movies.
External links
- Central State's Film Archive
- National Center of Cinematography
- Abdurrahim Myftiu
- A selection of great albanian movies offered by tanmarket.com (Website in Albanian)
- History of The Albanian Cinema.A Great Chronography from TheAlbanians.com (Website in English)
- Albanian Film Database - Albanian Films, cast, and crew.
- Movie Movie - A chronological history of Albanian cinema from 1911 to the present day
See also
- Cinema of the world
- World cinemaWorld cinemaWorld cinema is a term used primarily in English language speaking countries to refer to the films and film industries of non-English speaking countries. It is therefore often used interchangeably with the term foreign film...
- Culture of AlbaniaCulture of Albania-Education:The education system in Albania is secular. The literacy rate for the total population, age 9 or older, is about 94%. Elementary education is compulsory , but most students continue at least until a secondary education...
- FilmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
- History of AlbaniaHistory of AlbaniaThe history of Albania emerges from the prehistoric stage from the 4th century BC, with early records of Illyria in Greco-Roman historiography. The modern territory of Albania has no counterpart in antiquity, comprising parts of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia , Macedonia , and Moesia Superior...
- Norman WisdomNorman WisdomSir Norman Joseph Wisdom, OBE was an English actor, comedian and singer-songwriter best known for a series of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966 featuring his hapless onscreen character Norman Pitkin...
— British comedianComedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
whose films were highly popular in Communist Albania