The Albanian (2010)

Handsome Albanian villager Arben wants to marry Etleva, daughter of a neighboring clan, but her father has promised her to another man who is offering a 10,000 Euros bride price. But when ... See full summary »

Director:

Johannes Naber

Writers:

Johannes Naber, Chris Silber (as Christoph Silber)

Stars:

Nik Xhelilaj, Amos Muji Zaharia, Çun Lajçi

4 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nik Xhelilaj	...	Arben Shehu
Amos Muji Zaharia	...	Ilir Shehu (as Amos Zaharia)
Çun Lajçi	...	Arbens Vater
Luan Jaha	...	Arbens Onkel
Fatime Lajci	...	Arbens Mutter (as Fatime Lajçi)
Vasillaq Godo	...	Arbens Großvater
Elton Lomthi	...	Artan, Arbens kleiner Bruder
Xhejlane Terbunja	...	Etleva Petriti
Yllka Mujo	...	Etlevas Mutter
Gulielm Radoja	...	Etlevas Vater (as Guljem Radoja)
Besmir Halitaj	...	Taulant, Etlevas Bruder
Ledio Janushi	...	Skerdi, Etlevas Bruder
Bruno Shllaku	...	Sali
Julian Deda	...	Florenç
Ivan Shvedoff	...	Slatko

Storyline

Handsome Albanian villager Arben wants to marry Etleva, daughter of a neighboring clan, but her father has promised her to another man who is offering a 10,000 Euros bride price. But when it turns out Etleva is carrying Arben's child, the pressure is on for him to come up with the dowry before the baby is born -- and before her brothers take revenge for the dishonor he has brought their family. Fleeing to Berlin without papers, experience or knowledge of the language, Arben soon learns the ways of survival.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

Germany Albania

Language:

Albanian German

Release Date:

4 August 2011 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Albanac

Filming Locations:

Bajram Curri, Albania

Company Credits

Production Co:

ARTE, Neue Schönhauser Filmproduktion, On Film Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Der Albaner

Excellent, well-acted tale concerning an Albanian immigrant who leaves his village for Germany, where he tries to make the money needed to marry his girlfriend back home. Albanian custom dictates that the groom must pay a large dowry to the girl's family before they can wed, and in this case the girl is pregnant, so there is little time to lose. Having no working papers, Arben must really scrounge to make even a small amount of money. He eventually is forced to turn to crime to get what he needs, in order to return to his girl.

During the film, we see this character go through changes, from naive country boy, who can barely figure out how to use a computer, then becoming slowly disillusioned with the world he thought he understood. In the end, he develops a hard edge when things begin to go wrong, and he becomes desperate. When he finally returns to his homeland, things do not go as expected.

Of course this is hardly the first time this kind of tale has been told, but it is important to see and understand what people go through when coming to a new country to make a life for themselves. The world can be so cold and unforgiving for those without money or status. We learn from films like these how basically good people resort to questionable means to survive, because survival is human instinct, and life IS survival. Great movie, and a powerful drama.