HIVE Sundance 2021 : Director: Blerta Basholli

Interview by Emmanuel Itier for filmfestivals.com

Let us know where the inspiration for this film is coming from and what were you trying to address with its subject matter?

The inspiration first came from the TV story I heard about this woman, but mostly from meeting her in person. When I met her I experienced her strength and vision to continue and never look back, and besides encouraging me as a person I really wanted her story to be seen broadly by the whole world.

How difficult was it to revisit these times in Kosovo and what did you discover about this period of history that you didn’t know?

Although I lived in the city where it’s not the same as in the village, I lived through these times in Kosova and have a good Memory and sense about it. The most I learned about was how selfish people can be to judge you even when you are in a survival situation and trying to provide for your family. At the same time I discovered how hard it was and still is for families who lost their loved ones during the war and still do not know anything about them.

What are for you the messages and how relevant is this film today for an audience, especially a women audience?

I see this film  as relevant to any audience, men, women, transgender, anyone. Anyone who has gone through judgement of some can kind can connect to it, I hope they can, I believe they can. And I know we all have gone through some sort of judgement from someone.  People are judgmental, whether you live in the city or village, in the east or west. It comes in different shapes and forms but judgmental nonetheless. I think it is relevant to anyone, to women especially and especially after the recent movements in the film industry, which is the same case in any kind of industry. 

What was the biggest challenge making your film?

The biggest challenge was focusing the story on a small part of her life, yet being able to address all she has gone through and being able to be clear especially in front of the western audience, who know little about Kosova and the war. I didn’t want to be descriptive, I wanted the audience to feel her inner and outer war. The war with herself and the war with society, without seeing and talking about it much, but more feeling it.

In what ways did this film change you as a director and as a human being?

I believe it changed me a lot, both as a human being and as a director. I am really happy I decided to write the script myself because through the whole process I think I grew up as a person and as a filmmaker. It taught me how to dig deep into my feelings, how to be true to myself and how to be true to the audience with this film. Being true was my aim with this film. We were making a film, but recreating the reality in the most believable way was our aim. 

At the same time it encouraged me to continue and work hard for what I love most, which is making films. Fahrije did it. She did not have a chance to get educated but she did it. I had the chance to go to the  best schools and have lots of support so I should be able to do it as well.