The Forgiveness of Blood is an Albanian foreign language film
about two Albanian families involved in a blood feud after a murder puts them
at ends.
The film focuses on one family as their oldest son is being targeted to be killed following the Albanian tradition of “blood letting”.
The Forgiveness of Blood entirely focuses on the Albanian cultural practice of blood letting and following the orders of the Kanun (the book of Albanian traditional and religious law).
The laws of the Kanun go back to the 15th Century but The Forgiveness of Blood depicts how modern issues pertaining to familial feuds are dealt how murders are still ongoing.
The film focuses on one family as their oldest son is being targeted to be killed following the Albanian tradition of “blood letting”.
The Forgiveness of Blood entirely focuses on the Albanian cultural practice of blood letting and following the orders of the Kanun (the book of Albanian traditional and religious law).
The laws of the Kanun go back to the 15th Century but The Forgiveness of Blood depicts how modern issues pertaining to familial feuds are dealt how murders are still ongoing.
Synopsis
The main character of The Forgiveness of Blood is Nik, a
high school student and oldest son of his family. He has a normal life and has
two siblings a younger sister (who is also in school) and a baby brother.
His life takes a drastic change when his father is accused of killing another man in their town a day after they quarrel. With all evidence pointing towards his father being guilty a religious elder is summoned to give his verdict from the Kanun.
Following tradition, the elder announces that the family of the dead man are “owed a life”, which by rule means that the guilty party’s oldest son will be targeted to be murdered in retaliation. Nik is then forcibly removed from school, thrown into the boot of a car and is put into hiding.
He is cut off from the outside world and cannot leave his home as he is being hunted down by the other family.
The remainder of the film follows Nik as he is trapped within the confines of his family home as their tries to deal with the various problems that surface after the murder.
We follow Nik as he tries to deal with his changed situation and the toll his isolation has put on his entire family.
His life takes a drastic change when his father is accused of killing another man in their town a day after they quarrel. With all evidence pointing towards his father being guilty a religious elder is summoned to give his verdict from the Kanun.
Following tradition, the elder announces that the family of the dead man are “owed a life”, which by rule means that the guilty party’s oldest son will be targeted to be murdered in retaliation. Nik is then forcibly removed from school, thrown into the boot of a car and is put into hiding.
He is cut off from the outside world and cannot leave his home as he is being hunted down by the other family.
The remainder of the film follows Nik as he is trapped within the confines of his family home as their tries to deal with the various problems that surface after the murder.
We follow Nik as he tries to deal with his changed situation and the toll his isolation has put on his entire family.
Important Themes
Moreover, The Forgiveness of Blood touches on the continued modern use of the Kanun in Albania.
The Kanun has survived through the centuries despite the actions of many Ottoman Sultans and communist Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha’s attempts to outlaw it. Even though the Kanun is a dated text The Forgiveness of Blood shows that it is just as engrained in Albanian society today.
In modern day Albania, family feuds are still ongoing and stem for generations. Which has caused many children (like Basmir Gjeloshaj in this article) to grow up as adults in reclusive hiding which many describe as “It's like being dead.”
The Kanun has survived through the centuries despite the actions of many Ottoman Sultans and communist Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha’s attempts to outlaw it. Even though the Kanun is a dated text The Forgiveness of Blood shows that it is just as engrained in Albanian society today.
In modern day Albania, family feuds are still ongoing and stem for generations. Which has caused many children (like Basmir Gjeloshaj in this article) to grow up as adults in reclusive hiding which many describe as “It's like being dead.”
At one point in time the Kanun once
governed almost every aspect of life in the region including: inheritance,
trade, marriage and crimes. Even when the Albanian region was under Ottoman
rule the laws of the Kanun still superseded any form of state or Ottoman-era law.
As Nebi Bardoshi, an anthropologist from Tirana states:
“The Kanun is linked to the religion of blood, of which feuding is just one aspect. The law is based on two pillars: fair treatment between men and reciprocity.”
As Nebi Bardoshi, an anthropologist from Tirana states:
“The Kanun is linked to the religion of blood, of which feuding is just one aspect. The law is based on two pillars: fair treatment between men and reciprocity.”
As previously stated it is not uncommon for blood feuds to
span for generations. And most that last over the centuries end up “sucking in”
descendants who as present day know nothing of why they are involved or what
the original murder or crime committed was.
This investigative look at the Albanian blood feud by the BBC estimates that there are 68 families alone in the Shkodra region of Northern Albania who are unable to leave their homes because of feuds. All of these families live in fear and have members of their family under threat for simply existing because of a crime committed before they were born.
This investigative look at the Albanian blood feud by the BBC estimates that there are 68 families alone in the Shkodra region of Northern Albania who are unable to leave their homes because of feuds. All of these families live in fear and have members of their family under threat for simply existing because of a crime committed before they were born.
Despite common belief, blood letting traditions aren’t solely
a rural or small-town issue.
The traditions are widely held even in large cities like Tirana (Albania’s capital city) and are also prevalent in communities in Kosovo, Dagestan and in some cases have followed Kosova Albanians to some parts of Sweden.
If you are interested in reading more on the issue of blood letting in Albania I would suggest reading the novel Broken April by Ismail Kadare, a book which I believe The Forgiveness of Blood may have been based on.
In modern times, many families and communities in Albania have turned to the laws of the Kanun to settle disputes due to many in the country losing faith in the justice, political and governing systems.
An example of such a shift is the Lottery Uprising in 1997, where conflict verging on civil-war erupted following the collapse of various financial pyramid schemes. Which resulted in the formation of paramilitary forces who took control of the governing systems.
All in all, The Forgiveness of Blood is a film that depicts a very real - and to many - a very disturbing cultural tradition. That being said, the film is incredibly raw with emotion and is well put together.
The Forgiveness of Blood is a film that speaks to a very unique narrative that is not commonly discussed or known in popular society. It is a good look into how the old laws of the Kanun still have roots in modern Balkan society.
The Forgiveness of Blood tells a very emotional and real story that affects many in Albania.
The traditions are widely held even in large cities like Tirana (Albania’s capital city) and are also prevalent in communities in Kosovo, Dagestan and in some cases have followed Kosova Albanians to some parts of Sweden.
If you are interested in reading more on the issue of blood letting in Albania I would suggest reading the novel Broken April by Ismail Kadare, a book which I believe The Forgiveness of Blood may have been based on.
In modern times, many families and communities in Albania have turned to the laws of the Kanun to settle disputes due to many in the country losing faith in the justice, political and governing systems.
An example of such a shift is the Lottery Uprising in 1997, where conflict verging on civil-war erupted following the collapse of various financial pyramid schemes. Which resulted in the formation of paramilitary forces who took control of the governing systems.
Conclusion
All in all, The Forgiveness of Blood is a film that depicts a very real - and to many - a very disturbing cultural tradition. That being said, the film is incredibly raw with emotion and is well put together.
The Forgiveness of Blood is a film that speaks to a very unique narrative that is not commonly discussed or known in popular society. It is a good look into how the old laws of the Kanun still have roots in modern Balkan society.
The Forgiveness of Blood tells a very emotional and real story that affects many in Albania.
