Tinka Kurti
Encyclopedia
Tinka Kurti is one of the best known Albanian actresses. Her body of work, in about 60 years, includes more than 50 feature movies and 150 theatre plays. She has been awarded the People's Artist of Albania
medal.
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(then part of Yugoslavia
). She was the oldest of four children. At a young age her family moved to the city of Shkodra in northern part of Albania
. It is in Shkodra where she would spend most of her life and join the theatre at a young age.
In 1947 she was expelled from the Liceu Artistik (School of Arts) in Tirana
and was never able to graduate. However, this did not stop her from pursuing her acting career. She made her first theatre appearance at the age of 16, a minor role, in the play Dasma Shkodrane (Wedding from Shkodra.) From 1949 she became a member of the Theatre Migjeni in Shkodra where she was part of over 120 plays (dramas and comedies). Such plays include "Gjaku i Arbrit", “Histori Irkutase”, “Toka Jonë”, “Fisheku në pajë” and “Fejesa e Çehovit”.
Kurti did not limit herself only to theatre and decided to try film too. In 1958, she was chosen as the leading female role in the first Albanian feature film “Tana.” What followed was an endless series of film roles that would rightfully make her name a treasure of Albanian art. Some include Mother Pashako in "Yjet e netëve të gjata", the Mother in "Cifti i lumtur", Sinjorina Mançini in "Vajzat me kordele të kuqe", the Grandmother in "Zemra e Nënës".
Two cinemas in Tirana
and Durres
are named after her. The same is the school of Lekbibaj
(a village of Albania).
In 2003, the Albanian director, Esat Teliti, made a bibliographical documentary as a tribute to her life. It was simply named “Tinka”.
To this day Kurti still acts and amazes her audience wherever she goes. She once said: "I don't fear the old age, not even death. But, I do fear the senility of the brain, and when that moment will come, I think I would be dead twice. That's why I want to work."
People's Artist of Albania
People's Artist of Albania was an honorary title for the decoration of outstanding art performers of People's Socialist Republic of Albania, whose merits were exceptional in the sphere of development of the performing arts . It was created by law in 1960 and amended in 1980. The title was no longer...
medal.
Biography
Tinka was born in SarajevoSarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
(then part of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
). She was the oldest of four children. At a young age her family moved to the city of Shkodra in northern part of Albania
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...
. It is in Shkodra where she would spend most of her life and join the theatre at a young age.
In 1947 she was expelled from the Liceu Artistik (School of Arts) in 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...
and was never able to graduate. However, this did not stop her from pursuing her acting career. She made her first theatre appearance at the age of 16, a minor role, in the play Dasma Shkodrane (Wedding from Shkodra.) From 1949 she became a member of the Theatre Migjeni in Shkodra where she was part of over 120 plays (dramas and comedies). Such plays include "Gjaku i Arbrit", “Histori Irkutase”, “Toka Jonë”, “Fisheku në pajë” and “Fejesa e Çehovit”.
Kurti did not limit herself only to theatre and decided to try film too. In 1958, she was chosen as the leading female role in the first Albanian feature film “Tana.” What followed was an endless series of film roles that would rightfully make her name a treasure of Albanian art. Some include Mother Pashako in "Yjet e netëve të gjata", the Mother in "Cifti i lumtur", Sinjorina Mançini in "Vajzat me kordele të kuqe", the Grandmother in "Zemra e Nënës".
Two cinemas in 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...
and Durres
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
are named after her. The same is the school of Lekbibaj
Lekbibaj
Lekbibaj is a municipality in the Tropojë District, Kukës County, northern Albania....
(a village of Albania).
In 2003, the Albanian director, Esat Teliti, made a bibliographical documentary as a tribute to her life. It was simply named “Tinka”.
To this day Kurti still acts and amazes her audience wherever she goes. She once said: "I don't fear the old age, not even death. But, I do fear the senility of the brain, and when that moment will come, I think I would be dead twice. That's why I want to work."
Filmography
- Mira - 2008/II
- Etjet e Kosoves (Kosova: Desperate Search) - 2006
- Nata (The night) - 1998
- Zemra e Nënës (Grandmother’s heart) - 1995
- Në emër të lirisë (In the name of freedom) - 1987
- Hije që mbeten pas (Shadows left behind) -1985
- Besa e kuqe (Red faith) - 1982
- Qortimet e Vjeshtës (Autumn’s reproach) - 1982
- Si gjithë të tjerët (Like all the others) -1981
- Mengjeze te reja (New mornings) - 1980
- Nusja (The bride) - 1980
- Gjeneral gramafoni (The general gramophone) - 1978
- Vajzat me kordele të kuqe (Girls with red ribbons) - 1978
- Emblema e dikurshme - 1976
- Cifti i lumtur (The happy couple) – 1975
- Lumë drite (River of light) - 1975
- Operacion Zjarri (Fire operation) - 1973
- Yjet e netëve të gjata - (Stars of long nights) - 1972
- Guximtarët (The brave) - 1970
- Tana (Tana) - 1958