''Tirana Year Zero'' (''Tirana, année zéro''), is a 2002 Albanian film produced, written and directed by Fatmir Koçi. It tells the story of a young couple in post-
communist
Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...
Albania, at a time when many Albanians left the country in search for a better life abroad.
Plot
The protagonist of the movie is Nik, who lives in the capital of Albania,
Tirana, along with his mother and father. He is in love with a beautiful girl named Klara, who wants to move to
Paris to be a model. Nik makes his living with an old truck that belonged to his father, who is now sick, and seemingly dying.
Amidst the criticisms of his mother, the confusion and desperation covering the country, and the desire of his girlfriend to leave, Nik is still unsure whether he wants to leave. The film explores the way Nik handles the events of his life.
Awards
The film appeared in competition at several film festivals, including
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
(2001);
Sarlat,
Amiens and
Strasbourg
Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...
;
Namur
Namur (; ; nl, Namen ; wa, Nameur) is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia, hosting the Parliament of Wallonia, the Government of Wallonia and its administration.
Namu ...
, where it received the SACD prize; and
Thessaloniki, where it won the first prize, the Golden Alexander.
Cast
*Nevin Meçaj as Niku
*Ermela Teli as Klara
*
Rajmonda Bulku
Rajmonda Bulku (born 16 August 1958, in Cërrik) is an Albanian actress and former politician of Democratic Party of Albania. She appeared in numerous films and theatres as well as Zonja nga Qyteti, Duaje emrin tënd, Të Paftuarit, Vitet e pritj ...
as Martha
*
Robert Ndrenika as Kujtim
*
Lars Rudolph as Günter
*Juli Hajdini as Linda
*Laura Pelerins as Virginnie
*Behar Mera as Xhafa
*Birçe Hasko as Besim
*Nigda Dako as Dessi
*Vladimir Metani as Vladimir
*Artur Gorishti as Tare
*Gëzim Rudi as Titi
*Monika Lubonja as Nexhi
*Tea Pasko as Nexhi's daughter
*Marini as Nexhi's son
*Blegina Haskaj as Klara's sister
*Alfred Muçi as Klara's Sister's husband
*Fatos Sela as City Hall official
*Shpëtimi as drunk man 1
*Muharrem Kurti as drunk man 2
*Jorida Meta as Gipsy Girl
*Ledio Topalli as square police
*Enzo Bianchi as Paolino
*Muharrem Hoxha as barber
*Harilla Viero as Thoma
*Ardita Mullai as Barbie
*Lulzim Zeqja as maniac in train
References
External links
*
*
Albanian comedy-drama films
{{Albania-film-stub