In Joshua Marston’s first feature film, “Maria Full of Grace” (2004), actress Catalina Sandino Moreno was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in her debut performance. Marston’s new film, “The Forgiveness of Blood,” showcases two new, non-professional thespians, Tristan Halilaj and Sindi Lacej, as teen siblings caught up in their father’s blood feud.
Lightning may strike again. These two newcomers certainly deserve to be remembered for their fine performances.
Marston and co-writer Andamion Murataj have already picked up Best Screenplay Awards from the Berlin International Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival. In his new film, Marston examines the ancient, even archaic law of blood feuds in Northern Albania, a tradition that still exists.
In “Forgiveness,” Nik (Halilaj) is a high school teen who rides motorbikes with friends, dreams of opening an Internet café, and has a crush on a pretty classmate. Meanwhile his sister, Rudina (Lacej), loves school and learning. Rudina happily reiterates the day’s school lesson when riding with her father in their horse-drawn cart to deliver bread.
But normal life for these teens changes dramatically when their father becomes involved in a land dispute: He cuts through his neighbor’s land with his cart to get to his property. But during a particularly heated argument, the father is humiliated in front of Rudina as he’s turned away.
Not long after, family friends grab Nik on his way home from school and shove him into a car, out of view. They whisk him back to his home, past the crime scene. It seems Nik’s father and uncle were involved in a dispute with the landowner and the man was killed. Nik’s uncle is arrested and his father is on the run.
But for Nik, his life is completely ruined since it means the murdered man will seek vengeance. The ancient, 15th century Albanian laws are still in effect — a dead man’s family can legally take the life of a male from Nik’s family as retribution. This means Nik, if he wishes to live, must be imprisoned in his house or risk being shot and killed the moment he steps outside. He can no longer attend school or have dreams of getting his girl, or own an Internet café. For Rudina, she too must give up school and take on the family business.
Writer/director and former journalist Marston explains in his film’s production notes that what interested him in this story was not the blood feud itself, but that entire families were living a modern life with cell phones, Internet, and satellite TVs, yet still living under this 15th century law. Making the trip to Albania in 2009, Marston and Murataj met and interviewed families who were in such a feud and living in complete isolation. They met boys turning 18 who had been isolated since they were 5. Marston notes that entire generations caught in blood feuds are uneducated and unable to join the workforce.
“The Forgiveness of Blood” tells an amazing yet heartbreaking tale. Marston does wonders in casting and directing his non-pros, especially Tristan Halilaj and Sindi Lacej, who were handpicked from auditions at over 50 schools. Their naturalistic performances add punch to an already haunting film.
“The Forgiveness of Blood” is 109 minutes and Not Rated. Playing in Los Angeles and New York, it expands to select cities March 2.
For other film reviews by Lori Huck, check out:
‘Miss Bala’ Review: Mexico’s Stark, Riveting Oscar Pick
‘In Darkness’ Review: A Powerful Film and Strong Oscar Contender
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