Cannes begins countdown, Kosovo joins with '90s "Duan"

The film with the drama of a Kosovo Albanian teenager has opened the doors of Europe's newest state to what is the festival of festivals. It has returned there a story that shows the ethnic cleansing at the end of the last century in Europe and this through the sincere eyes of a teenager. The Cannes International Film Festival today (Tuesday) opens its doors for this edition's marathon that lasts 12 days. Today, the team of the film "Dua", directed by Blerta Basholli, also arrives there

She is a teenager who has just begun to discover herself more and the pleasures that age gives. But, unlike her peers in other countries, Duas has to face much more. "Run away from the police" is the voice heard at the beginning of the "trailer". In one minute and 40 seconds chosen to show a little of the film, a lot can be read. It is clear that this is a cinematic project that is based on human feelings at a young age and a future without a point of security. It is about the end of the '90s. The film with the drama of a Kosovo Albanian teenager has opened the doors to the youngest state in Europe in what is the festival of festivals. It has turned there a story that shows ethnic cleansing at the end of the last century in Europe, and this through the sincere eyes of a teenager.

The Cannes International Film Festival opens its doors today (Tuesday) for its 12-day marathon. The team of the film “Dua”, directed by Blerta Basholli, is also arriving there today. This film, with the story of a 13-year-old girl, will be shown three times as part of the “Critics’ Week”, a parallel section of the Cannes International Film Festival. It is in the official competition of feature films in this program.

In the days when the world has its eyes on Cannes and when movie stars parade along the red carpet and in glamorous settings, the story of Kosovo appears with a story from almost three decades ago. In the "trailer" released on Monday, it is revealed that new students are joining Dua's class. They are refugees. Later, many things are similar in the class, which the teacher finds it difficult to tell her. Judo does not come as a sport - for which Kosovo is now known worldwide - but also as a protective measure. In the minds of teenagers, it is also a protective measure against the artillery of the Serbian forces, which in those days forcibly expelled nearly a million Albanians from Kosovo and killed about 10 thousand civilians, just because they were Albanians, like Dua. The escapes from Serbian forces in the capital, in the "trailer", come across as a youth drama. Locking up at home during bombings is a kind of chamber theater that develops with an impromptu script. The film team is hopeful. The very selection to have the world premiere at such a major event is a success that speaks volumes.

"Expectations are very good and we are very happy to be part of Cannes, at 'Semaine de la Critique'. This is an important moment for us and for the entire team," said the film's producer, Valon Bajgora. He indicated that, on the eve of leaving for Cannes, the atmosphere is very positive and the team is full of emotion and pride.

"As for the agenda, we will have the gala premiere on Wednesday at 17:30 PM, as well as meetings with media and industry professionals, creating good opportunities for new collaborations," he said.

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The film will be shown on Wednesday morning as well as on Thursday.

"We believe that the film will have a long and successful journey in festivals and cinemas around the world," said Bajgora.

Directed by Blerta Basholli and written by her in collaboration with Nicole Borgeat, "Dua" is a co-production between Kosovo, Switzerland and France.

"As war approaches and ethnic tensions escalate, 13-year-old Dua struggles to find her place among her peers and within her changing body. After an incident that shakes her community, she herself becomes a target and connects with a courageous girl, Maki, who draws her into an unexpected form of resistance. Between daily violence and the growing threat of exile, there is little room for quiet awakenings," reads the description of the film "Critic's Week."
With a cast that includes Arben Bajraktaraj, Pinea Matoshi, Kaona Matoshi, Yllka Gashi, Kushtrim Hoxha, Fiona Abdullahu and Mila Savic, “Dua” will put the audience in the “skin” of a teenager who, surrounded by terrible news of the war, has her own dilemmas, insecurities and fears that she faces like any other person. The film is very personal and is based on the director’s own experience. Basholli once again focuses on human sensitivity. The film’s producers are Valon Bajgora and Yll Uka from “Ikonë Studio”, while the co-producers are Britta Rindelaub and Thomas Reichlin from “Alva Film” in Switzerland and Amaury Ovise from “Kazak Productions” in France.

The film, in addition to the Kosovo Cinematography Center, has also been supported by the "Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée", "Office Fédéral de la Culture", "ARTE Cinema", "Eurimages", "SRF - Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen" and "Cineforom".

“Critic’s Week”, as a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival, was founded in 1962 by the French Union of Film Critics. The week focuses on discovering new talent, presenting first and second feature films by authors from all over the world. Directors such as Jacques Audiard, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Ken Loach, François Ozon, Wong Kar-wai or, in more recent years, César Augusto Acevedo, Julia Ducournau, David Robert Mitchell, Santiago Mitre, Jeff Nichols and Rebecca Zlotowski have been discovered by “La Semaine de la Critique”.

"La Semaine de la Critique" materializes its role as a talent scout every year through a selection of 13 short films and 11 feature films that are presented during the Cannes Film Festival.

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Basholli's film is in competition with "The Station", a co-production between Yemen, Jordan, France and several other countries directed by Sara Ishaq; with "La Gradiva", a French-Italian co-production directed by Maëva Atlan; "A Girl Unknown", a Chinese-French co-production directed by Zoi Jung; "Seis meses en el edificio rosa con azul", a co-production between Mexico, Denmark and Brazil directed by Bruno Santamaria Razo; "Tin Castle", an Irish-French co-production directed by Alexander Murphy; and "Alive", a French production directed by Aina Cloet. Four other films are out of competition and will have "Special Screenings".

The 79th Cannes International Film Festival is once again presenting films from around the world, including some of the most established names in the art form. The list includes new films by Polish director Paweł Pawlikowski, Japanese director and screenwriter Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Spaniard Pedro Almodóvar. Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev returns to the festival's competition with the film "Minotaur". Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, whose drama "Shoplifters" won the "Palme d'Or" in 2018, is also returning. He will present his new science fiction film "Sheep in the Box".
Other films in competition include works by Asghar Farhadi, Lukas Dhont and László Nemes. The only American film competing for the festival's top prize is Ira Sachs' "The Man I Love," a story set in New York during the AIDS crisis in the 80s and starring Rami Malek. Although not initially announced as part of the festival's competition, James Gray's latest drama, "Paper Tiger," was later added to the list. Two well-known American directors will present documentaries in the festival's special programs: Steven Soderbergh with "John Lennon: The Last Interview" and Ron Howard with "Avedon," a story about photographer Richard Avedon.
The jury that will decide the winner of this year's Palme d'Or is headed by South Korean director Park Chan-wook. The jury also includes Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao and Stellan Skarsgård.
The festival will open with the 20s French film “The Electric Kiss.” At the opening ceremony, Cannes will also honor the distinguished director Peter Jackson with a special “Palme d’Or” award. Later in the festival, Barbra Streisand will also be honored with the same award.