After the “hit” at the “Sundance Film Festival” with its world premiere and award, “Shame and Money” written and directed by Visar Morina, its next destination is the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. It is among the films that have “snatched” the most famous trophies in the world of film, including the “Oscar”. “‘Horizons’ – one of the most popular categories of the festival – brings 55 new films from the current festival season. Films from the last edition of the Cannes Film Festival will be strongly represented and the Karlovy Vary audience will have the opportunity to see, for example, the exciting drama ‘Fjord’, winner of the ‘Golden Palm’, directed by Cristian Mungiu; the latest works of ‘Oscar’-winning directors”, wrote this festival, which this year marks its 60th edition
The successful start with a world premiere and an award at the "Sundance Film Festival" was a kind of sign that predetermined the path of the film, written and directed by Visar Morina, through prestigious festivals. The next stop for "Shame and Money" is the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The festival in the Czech city is known as one of the most important events in Europe, and there, the film bearing the seal of Kosovo is in the official program. The news about the next success of this film work was brief. "'Shame and Money' in the official competition of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival", wrote the Kosovo Cinematographic Center, accompanying the news with the poster and logo of the festival, which is held from July 3 to 11. This year marks the jubilee edition, the 60th. According to the festival's website, "Shame..." is shown in the non-profit category "Horizons".
“‘Horizons’ – one of the most popular categories of the festival – brings 55 new films from the current festival season. Films from the last edition of the Cannes Film Festival will be strongly represented and the Karlovy Vary audience will have the opportunity to see, for example, the emotional drama ‘Fjord’, winner of the ‘Palme d’Or’, directed by Cristian Mungiu; the latest works of the ‘Oscar’-winning directors, ‘Fatherland’ by Pawel Pawlikowski and ‘All of a Sudden’ by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi; the winner of the prestigious ‘Un Certain Regard’ section, ‘Everytime’; as well as special auteur films from Nepal, Rwanda and Costa Rica. From the Berlin Film Festival, the audience can look forward to ‘Yellow Letters’, winner of the ‘Golden Bear’, as well as a melancholic biography of the legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans. Also films from the Venice Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival, which was held for the last time in Park City this year, will maintain their traditional presence," the festival wrote. It also highlights the works of directors returning to the festival. And there is Visar Morina.
“A number of ‘returning’ directors – whose previous works have premiered in one of the Karlovy Vary festival’s competitive sections – will also present their newest films, such as Cyril Aris with ‘A Sad and Beautiful World’, Visar Morina with ‘Shame and Money’, while Andreus Blaževičius brings ‘How to Divorce during the War’,” the website states. “Shame...” will have three screenings.
Visar Morina's name has been known in Karlovy Vary for more than a decade. In 2015, he also won the award for best director for "Father". As in that film, in "Shame" he entrusted the main role to Astrit Kabashi, whose performance was highly praised since its world premiere in January of this year at the Sundance Film Festival. There he triumphed by receiving the Grand Jury Prize, and with this the success of Kosovo cinematography in the major film event was reconfirmed. The co-production with Germany, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia and Belgium was appreciated for the power of the narrative and masterful direction. Director Morina, who wrote the screenplay together with Doruntina Basha, was present at the awards ceremony in Utah, United States of America.
The triumph among ten films in the "World Cinema Dramatic Competition" category of the festival, which this year rounded off its 42nd edition, was recognition of Kosovo film, which is not unknown to it. Neither is the name of Visar Morina.
“Shame and Money” tells the story of a Kosovar family forced to move from the village to the capital, in search of a place in capitalist society. “For its powerful and unique portrayal of human dignity, in contemporary Kosovo, which finds universal resonance. A sensitive director who skillfully draws the audience into the daily difficulties of a family. For his deep empathy for the characters, at a crucial moment in which they are starting their lives anew, the ‘Grand Jury Prize’ goes to the film ‘Shame and Money’”, was the Jury’s assessment.
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Karlovy Vary's halls, small for "Shame and Money", Visar Morina's history repeats itself
Actor Astrit Kabashi in "Shame..." is Shabani, the traditional and proud head of the family, who must use his mother's savings to keep the family afloat. The explanation of the theme states that his pride is constantly overshadowed and his dignity slips.
“...Shaban approaches an invisible edge – asking the question of how much more he can endure,” the 130-minute film is written. Visar Morina returned to Sundance with “Shame…”. In 2020, he was in official competition with the film “Exil”. Also in the cast of this film are Astrit Kabashi and Flonja Kodheli, who plays Shaban's wife, Hatixhena. In addition to actors Kumrije Hoxha and Fiona Gllavica, Alban Ukaj also plays one of the central roles. The other roles are played by: Aria Shala, Riga Morina, Melika Gashi, Selman Lokaj, Teuta Hajdini, Abdinaser Beka, Rebeka Qena, Tristan Halilaj, Basri Lushtaku, Rafet Abazi, Eshref Durmishi and Besnik Krapi. Producers are: Fabian Altenried, Sophie Ahrens, Kristof Gerega and Pia Hellenthal. The film's co-producers are: Eshref Durmishi, Besnik Krapi, Danijel Hoçevar, Dritan Huqi, Marija Dimitrova and Marc Goyens.
