Read the full article on Firstpost, here: https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/kosovos-submission-for-best-foreign-language-film-oscar-is-an-lgbtq-themed-drama-and-a-big-hit-5631551.html
Kosovo is a small country of 1.8 million inhabitants. It now produces up to three or four feature films a year. The source of this information is Blerta Zeqiri, the Kosovar director/scriptwriter, whose Martesa (The Marriage), is Kosovo’s candidate for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Zeqiri answered some questions I sent over email. She said Martesa is the first ever LGBT live action feature made in Kosovo. “We had a feature documentary on gays called Beyond the Rainbow, and another short that has qualified for the Oscars this year.” I also watched a screener, and the basic plot is this: In the lead-up to Bekim (Alban Ukaj) and Anita’s (Adriana Matoshi) wedding, Bekim’s friend and former gay lover, Nol (Genc Salihu), returns from abroad. And…
Martesa is the second LGBTQIA-themed drama from a smaller filmmaking nation I saw this year, after Wanuri Kahiu’s Rafiki (Friend; in English and Swahili, and the first film from Kenya to be screened at Cannes). To a liberal audience from a big city, Rafiki’s delicately handled romance — a Juliet and Juliet template — may not exactly be revelatory. But this is a small town where gossip is thick and the church holds a firm sway, with exorcism-like rituals to “cleanse” homosexuals. (The film has been banned in its home country.) When a lynch mob descends on the achingly young couple, I was reminded of India, where your business is everybody’s business.
Continued at the link above.
Copyright ©2018 Firstpost.
Anu Warrier
November 29, 2018
Wow. And that’s just from reading your synopsis of the screener you watched. I wonder whether this will screen here in the US. I would certainly love to watch this.
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ramitbajaj01
November 29, 2018
It’s interesting to note that there is heavy patronage by Kosovo and Albania governments towards movies, even for an LGBT themed movie.
By the way, sir, how do you zero in on the movies to write about, for this series? Both the movies discussed above aren’t released in India, and most likely will not be. Last week’s Bohemian Rhapsody peg was understandable. But then again, At Eternity’s Gate isn’t released in India yet. Last to last week, Akerman was discussed, whose movies, leave aside being available on streaming apps, aren’t available even on pirated sites. And that’s the case with most of the movies discussed in this series. I love to read about world cinema, I just wish it’s available to be watched too.
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brangan
November 29, 2018
ramitbajaj01: I try to find a peg, or write about a movie that comes my way. This screener landed up in my Inbox. i found the film interesting, plus found the Kosovar angle interesting. So I wrote about it.
Yes, I see what you mean about “available to be watched” films. But I imagine people would also be interested in at least reading about films they aren’t going to be able to watch soon.
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jaga_jaga
November 29, 2018
“in at least reading about films they aren’t going to be able to watch soon.”
At least porn for those who don’t get sex…
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Kay
December 1, 2018
BR, is there any film society or a place in Chennai where foreign language movies, or not famous but critically acclaimed movies are screened? Would love to watch this one but not sure if it’ll be available online also.
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