The Forgiveness of Blood (2011)

An Albanian family is torn apart by a murder, resulting in a blood feud that finds Nik becoming the prime target and his sister, Rudina, forced to leave school in order to take over the family business

Director:

Joshua Marston

Writers:

Joshua Marston, Andamion Murataj

Stars:

Tristan Halilaj, Refet Abazi, Sindi Lacej

4 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tristan Halilaj	...	Nik
Refet Abazi	...	Mark
Zana Hasaj	...	Bardha
Erjon Mani	...	Tom
Luan Jaha	...	Zef
Çun Lajçi	...	Ded (as Çun Lajçi)
Veton Osmani	...	Sokol
Zefir 'Bep' Bushati	...	Valmir
Selman Lokaj	...	Kreshnik
Kol Zefi	...	Shpend
Sindi Lacej	...	Rudina
Ilire Vinca Celaj	...	Drita
Esmeralda Gjonlulaj	...	Bora
Elsajed Tallalli	...	Dren
Ibrahim Ymeri	...	School Director

Storyline

This film's center is a family in Albania. The main characters are Rudina, the oldest daughter, and Nik, the oldest son. Both have a pretty normal life. Rudina is an A-student in high-school and Nik very popular. He just fell in love with one of his fellow students. Their father earns the families income with a little bread delivery service. For that he uses a short cut through the neighbours ground, but the neighbour doesn't necessarily like that. But the ground had actually belonged to Rudina's and Nik's family once. One day the conflict escalates and the neighbour gets killed by Rudina's and Nik's father and their uncle. Because only their uncle gets caught by the police and their father is able to hide, the old law of blood feud is against the family. They cannot leave their house. Only the women of the family are allowed to leave the house. So Rudina has to quit school and continue the bread delivery service of the father, so the family can survive. The situation is tense as ...

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Plot Keywords:

blood feud | murder | father son relationship | brother sister relationship | vendetta | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA Albania Denmark Italy

Language:

Albanian

Release Date:

17 September 2011 (Albania)

Also Known As:

Falja e gjakut

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$26,724 (USA) (24 February 2012)

Gross:

$119,683 (USA) (6 April 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sundance Selects, Fandango, Portobello Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Ka Pushu Bilbili Këngën"
Written by Jasmina Lumani & Roland Guli
Performed by Mukades Canga Baxha
Courtesy of Mukades Canga Baxha

User Reviews

Potentially interesting but slow moving yawn-a-thon

This film is again one of important subject matter that was handled in a very low-key way. It reminded me of the pace of "Of Gods and Men", it didn't hold your attention - not enough stuff happens in it - and this is a shame because it's a film about Albanian blood feuds, and the history behind them.

It felt like a documentary and the acting was too subdued, although the actors were not experienced. Lots of yawning from a guy behind me suggested it wasn't capturing peoples imagination due to the snail's pace of each scene and conversation, hardly any incidental music - a very soporific 1 hour 50 mins.

It's also garnered loads of awards?