Tirana Year Zero
Running time: 89 mins
Albania: A land still all but unknown, even to its nearest neighbors in Europe. Yet, from a land where the everyday verges on the surreal, a land with no international train service, a land that has seen its population dwindle with over 600,000 of its best and brightest emigrated-comes this wild and wooly film, brimming with energy, chaos, and, amidst the detritus of change run amok, hope and love. Niku and Klara, each living with their parents in Albania's capital city, Tirana, are very much in love. Though Niku is staunchly committed to his homeland-to staying and trying to help her improve her lot-Klara wants to leave and find a better life elsewhere. Against a backdrop of a highly emotional people living on the edge of despair, Niku ekes out a living with an old truck from his father. As Klara pursues her dream of emigration, Niku must wrestle with his own hopes and desires. Add to the mix a crazy German, wonderfully played by Lars Rudolph (No Place To Go, Cinequest 2001) who hires Niku to help him pursue his own mad dream, and Fatmir Koi's film emotes a magical resonance all its own. - Charlie Cockey