The Forgiveness of Blood

The Forgiveness of Blood
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJoshua Marston
Written byJoshua Marston
Andamion Murataj
StarringTristan Halilaj
CinematographyRob Hardy
Edited byMalcolm Jamieson
Release dates
  • 18 February 2011 (2011-02-18) (Berlinale)
  • 17 September 2011 (2011-09-17) (Albania)
Running time
109 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Albania
LanguageAlbanian

The Forgiveness of Blood (Albanian: Falja e Gjakut) is a 2011 drama film co-written and directed by Joshua Marston. The film premiered in competition at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival and competed for the Golden Bear.[1][2] Marston and co-writer Andamion Murataj won the Silver Bear for Best Script.[3]

The film was originally submitted as the Albanian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film, but it was rejected when Bujar Alimani, director of Amnesty, protested that The Forgiveness of Blood ought not to be eligible due to American input on the project. The AMPAS disqualified it and Albania submitted Alimani's film instead.[4]

The film deals with the consequences of a blood feud on a family in a remote area of modern-day Albania.[2][5][6]

  1. ^ "The Forgiveness Of Blood". Berlinale. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Spacey, Moore and 3D in focus at Berlin film fest". Agence France-Presse. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2013.[dead link]
  3. ^ "Prizes & Honours 2011". Berlinale. Berlin International Film Festival. 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  4. ^ Holdsworth, Nick (9 October 2011). "Albanian Oscar entry disqualified". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  5. ^ Freeman, Colin (1 July 2010). "Albania's modern-day blood feuds". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  6. ^ "The Forgiveness Of Blood (2012)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 18 July 2013.