Runtime: 84 minutes
Directed by: Blerta Basholli
Starring: Yllka Gashi, Cun Lajci, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha, Adriana Matoshi
From: Film companies from Kosovo, Albania, The Republic of North Macedonia & Switzerland
This is for all the UK people that will finally have the opportunity to watch this movie later in March. At Sundance last year it was the first movie to win the big three prizes at the festival-if you're especially cynical you wonder if both the critics and fans at said festival were “being woke” by selecting a movie concerning women fighting against the patriarchy and the true story origins... the ratings on Letterboxd aren't as over the moon although there have been many occasions where even us dorks on this site don't agree with the effusive praise lavished on certain movies.
But I don't want the tone to be negative on a movie I rate as “very good” when there are plenty that did not like it as much. Oh, and I know that me mentioning Kosovo as one of the countries is controversial as only half the members of the United Nations even recognize Kosovo as a country. I really know little about the topic to have an opinion if Serbia should still rule that area or not; as the movie is set during the Kosovo War of 1998-1999, the setting is a small village located on land claimed by Kosovo and the crux of the plot revolves around lead character Fahrijie's husband having gone missing & presumed dead... I'll recognize them at least for the purposes of this review.
Plus, I haven't seen much in the way of cinema from Serbia, Kosovo, Albania or the Republic of North Macedonia. This was not the cheeriest tale; after all, it's about rampant sexism in that small village where if any woman even so much as receives a driver's license, she's viewed suspiciously and negatively by the men. Imagine the struggle Farhije has to endure: her husband possibly dead, having to manage her hubby's honey farm, her teen daughter acting like a typical teen daughter, an old dad that doesn't get around so well anymore, and having to convince the other women around to join together for an entrepreneurial opportunity. There's even a sexual assault. Much to my relief this wasn't 84 minutes of misery; there are charming and heartwarming moments also. The interesting story was well-told and it was one heck of a lead performance from Yllka Gashi.
In the United States Hive was recently added to the Criterion Channel; speaking of “being woke”, I am sure some would levy that charge against that service. Considering some of the material they have available for a limited time, sure... then again they have so much available to select from, there's a surfeit of selections no matter what's added or subtracted each month. Anyhow, I do understand some of the criticisms I've heard but the overall story and the powerful lead performance won me over.
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