by ALEXANDRA MARIE DANIELS
Through the lens of average teenage eyes, The Forgiveness of Blood captures the contradictions that have hindered Albania’s post-communist development. Specific in context yet universal in theme, Joshua Marston (director of the highly acclaimed 2004 film Maria Full of Grace) has created a high quality artistic production – that educates and powerfully brings us closer to the possibility that, just maybe, as cultures we are not as different as we often like to think.
Opening on February 24, 2012, The Forgiveness of Blood tells the story of Nik (Tristan Halilaj), a typical teenage boy. Fumbling awkwardly around his feelings for a young beauty at school and his future plans of opening an internet café in the Northern Albanian village where he lives, his dreams are crushed in an instant when a land dispute involving his father and uncle results in a neighbor’s death. According to a 15th century legal code, the Kanun, Nic’s family must pay retribution by never leaving their home. Nik and his little brother are targeted and risk their lives if they go outside. His sister Rudina (Sindi Laçej) must take over the father’s bread route to bring in income for the family.