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★★★★★
Directed by: #ZgjimTerziqi
Written by: Zgjim Terziqi
Starring: #MakfireMiftari, #MayLindaKosumovic, #ShengylIsmajli, #LuanJaha, #IrenaCahani, #RinesaQeriqi,
A devastatingly thoughtful family #drama from Kosovo based on a true story about a blind woman called Ana (Makfire Miftari) who moves around each month living with a different sibling based on a pact between sisters. Each of the residences present various joys, hardships, and challenges for Ana, who is often, tragically, treated as a fragile burden.
Written and directed by Zgjim Terziqi, A Month captures a terrific balance between sombre #storytelling and brilliant characterisation. It would have been fairly tempting to paint most of the family members as cartoonish villains or heroes depending on their behavior towards Ana. And whilst that is certainly an aspect of the characters, they are far more convincing than that, especially against the backdrop of a broken albanian economy where unemployment is rampant.
Ana is our focal point throughout the #shortfilm and we glimpse the splintered reality she experiences, where her reliance on the goodwill of others can be painfully apparent. During one sequence in a supermarket the loud crunching of a packet being grasped by another shopper across Ana's face is like a spray of bullets coming out of nowhere. This vulnerability is key. Similarly, there are euphoric moments in the movie, such as a dancing scene in the living room of one of the nicer sisters, or a sequence where Ana peacefully masturbates on a sofa.
Few short films are able to conjure such a satisfying narrative that feels as rich as a feature length but as potent as a short. This is a movie that lines up all of its elements to engulf the audience into an emotional atmosphere, one that discusses themes of family, hardship, responsibility, and kindness in beautiful clarity. We travel to each of the houses that are supposedly charged with the care of Ana hoping to receive a better standard of life. What we discover is a range of humanity that is regrettably unsurprising in its selfish tendencies but also laced with tenderness, particularly amongst the younger characters.
Heartbreaking in all the right places, Terziqi is majestic in his use of emotive cinema. He delivers a powerful story in a way that feels totally personal and nuanced without resorting to extremes that would undermine the message.
Watch the official Movie Trailer for A Month below.
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