Triumph of love for the woman challenged by the aristocracy

The French play “On the Heart of the Rose” has brought to the opening of the International Theatre Festival in Pristina a love story that is challenged by remaining in the shadow of a woman, but which ultimately triumphs. An elegant play by the duo Aphrodite de Lorraine and Emmanuel Lemire turns back time to the real story of Antoine de Saint-Exupér, the French writer, journalist and aviator, known for his work “Le Petit Prince” and his wife Consuelo de Saint-Exupéry. Its message focuses on the importance of women, and those of the opening speeches of the Festival – which was also attended by the acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti – on the importance of theatre and art beyond politics

The drama “On the heart of the rose” based on the text of the playwright Eduardo Manet with Cuban roots and Aphrodite de Lorraine with origins in Kosovo, brings the story of two lovers in a distant time. There are landscapes of two extremes between freedom and the restrictions of the aristocracy. Directed by Patrick Alluin, the play takes us back almost a hundred years and touches on war and other challenges through which love seeks to flourish. And triumphs. This story has opened the ninth edition of the International Theater Festival in Pristina.

The festival, which also bears the name of the late director, Burbuqe Berisha, kicked off its program on Monday evening at the "Faruk Begolli" theater. This year, the program includes six plays from different countries and will be shown every evening until May 24. 

At the opening ceremony, acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti focused on what comes from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He said that the festival is a "meeting place where souls communicate beyond words" and that "through the stage, paths are opened that politics often close." 

"I thank them for their participation and for their courage and commitment to building bridges where history and politics have left words. The Republic of Kosovo sees its future linked to sustainable peace, good neighborliness and mutual cooperation. With Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are divided by borders, but we are united by experiences, challenges and especially the need to get to know each other better through art and culture. We believe that culture is the surest path to mutual respect. What political institutions sometimes delay, art can precede," Kurti said on stage. 

The founder of the festival, actor Ilir Tafa, took the opportunity at the opening ceremony to announce actor Enver Petrovci as the Festival's guest of honor. 

"When you come to my age and in my circumstances, you remember your childhood. Things you thought you had forgotten, you remember. While Ilir Tafa, my former student, spoke, I remembered our first meeting, in the courtyard of the 'Dodona' theater. He didn't teach much, but here he is today. We remained friends during our studies, and even now. I thank you for the invitation you made me, you brought me back from the dead and here we are," Petrovci said before declaring the festival open. 

The opening ceremony was also attended by the Israeli Ambassador to Kosovo, Tamar Ziv. In the hall of the "Faruk Begolli" theater, there were some foreign participants who left the hall after being greeted by the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti. 

"They're not ashamed to invite him," one of them said before leaving the room.

As soon as the opening ceremony ended, the stage was immediately taken over by actors Emmanuel Lemire and Aphrodite de Lorraine for their performance in the play "On the Heart of the Rose". 

It is August 1929, as revealed by the date of the letter that Antoine writes from Buenos Aires to his mother in France. As soon as he meets Consuelo, his fiancée, the side of their love is also revealed. The play is full of scenes that unravel it. They crown their love with marriage, but conflicts soon begin. They are of the type of whether she, who comes from El Salvador, a country where women are extremely emancipated, should work or not. She has worked as a model and journalist in her country. At 16, she left home to study abroad, while now she has to face the circumstances of an aristocratic society. 

Actress Aphrodite de Lorraine said that the central part of the play was to bring to light the woman who has always been in the shadows. 

"Even though she was a very talented artist because she was a painter and sculptor, this whole part of her was hidden because her husband took all her place. The drama is very important for highlighting women, their art. It is from 1929 and she was very free at that time. As a woman, she was much freer than in European countries at that time. She spent 16 years studying in America and then went to France," said Aphrodite de Lorraine, the stage name of actress Afërdita Morina, originally from Peja.  

Antoine is a famous writer. His successes and the awards he receives as a journalist are broadcast on the radio. He is even interviewed. Then the war breaks out and he has to serve in the military. After a long time of boredom and prayers, they are reunited. In the end, Antoine gives up everything just for the love of his life. 

In fact, Antoine is Antoine de Saint-Exupér, the French writer, journalist and aviator, known for his work "Le Petit Prince", whose colors the show also has. Consuelo is Antoine's wife, Consuelo de Saint-Exupéry.

Actor Emmanuel Lemire, who plays the role, said that based on the content of the show, it was not easy to play his role. 

"It's not easy because he's a big man and he forgets his reputation. I just forget about that and try to be honest, to be him, to have his thoughts. From the beginning, the idea of ​​the character was like a little prince. I'm an old prince after all. It's wonderful to play a role of a man who is so famous, but very humble at the same time," he said. 

The ongoing events of the Prishtina International Theatre Festival include the play “Petrichora – The story of the bridge of Arta” directed by Harry Thomas. The Greek production was shown on Tuesday evening. The play “God bless America”, a production of the Gjilan Theatre directed by Fatos Berisha, will be shown on Wednesday. On Thursday, May 23, the Bosnian play “Purple” will be performed under the direction of Selma Spahic, while the following day the play “Family on a train” from Israel, directed by Sharon Stark. The artistic program closes with the guest play “The Lie”, a production of “Art Image” and the “Faruk Begolli” theatre, directed by Agon Myftari. As usual, the festival closes with the award ceremony on Saturday evening. 

The main jury consists of actor Enver Petrovci, director Amra Mehiq and choreographer Gjergj Prevazi.

In the previous edition, the play "Muhammad Ali, one and only" by author Almir Imshireviq, directed by Dino Mustafiq, won the main prize, that for the best play, at the eighth edition of the International Theater Festival in Pristina.