The Forgiveness of Blood (2011)
Mild themes and violence
| Director: | Joshua Marston |
| Actors: | Tristan Halilaj, Sindi Lacej, Refet Abazi, Ilire Vinca Celaj |
Please note that this is an Albanian language film with English subtitles.
Nik is an ordinary Albanian teenager. More interested in Facebook than his family's bread-delivery business, he has two dreams: to open an internet cafe and to win the heart of his classmate, Klodi. But his simple aspirations are rendered impossible after a long-standing feud between Nik's father and a neighbour results in the neighbour's murder. Nik's father flees, and the family's life is thrown into turmoil due to an ancient Albanian eye for an eye law, which more or less forces the family to remain inside their house for their own safety. The only one free to leave is Nik's enterprising younger sister, Rudina, who continues to run the family business and provides precious contact with the outside world.
Quietly affecting and absorbing, The Forgiveness of Blood carefully avoids judgement, presenting an inhumane cultural practice with grace and patience.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 109mins |
| Origin: | ALBANIA |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 |
Blood spilled
by Simon Miraudo, 9/06/2011 2:51:00 PM
Joshua Marston’s The Forgiveness of Blood is an Albanian-language parable about a neighbourly feud that takes a murderous turn. The film avoids histrionics, and thoughtfully presents the audience with the “logic” of a blood debt. As the wife and children of a man responsible for a murder endures a self-imposed exile – out of respect for those they have wronged – they question their centuries’ old religion, and frustrated teenager Nik (intense newcomer Tristan Halilaj) decides to take actions that his on-the-lam father was too afraid to do. Think Susanne Bier’s In A Better World, but good.
3.5/5
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Member Reviews (1)
1 Member
Review
says
Wonderfully acted and filmed in northern Albania about life and ancient customs bought crashingly real into today's new world ...its in Albanian with subtitles [which are very fast ] but well worth the watch if you are after something magical...