"The Forgiveness Of Blood" : Balkan Honor In The Modern Age

Certain values or virtues have different levels of importance within each society around the globe. Although, the westernized way of doing things has taken over most of the modern world, there is still people who are ruled by a different set of rules, and who even in the middle of an information-driven age hold on to ancient tradition. In the Balkans, and perhaps most noticeably in Albania, the judicial system, in certain isolated parts of the country, is not as strong as the ancient feudal code of justice know as Kanun. These rules are there to provide some of sort of almost religious guidance, as the Albanian people are very ambiguous in terms of religion due to a history of secular socialism. Some of these parameters are very barbaric for the western eye, but there are still the righteous way of doing things there, even if it includes killing in the name of honor. Now, mix in these ancient beliefs with a globalized world in which cellphones, the Internet, and even Facebook are a most have for teenagers all over, and you get yourself a conflict between the old and the current. Modernity and tradition colliding in the lives of the youngest ones in the community as the teenagers in a remote Albanian town see their future threaten by the actions of their elders, and the strict and intransigent commandments they uphold. This is what unfolds in Joshua Marston's film "The Forgiveness of Blood", in which a murder can only be forgiven with the killing of a male member of the opposite family. A coming of age tale that becomes unique due to the circumstances of the characters, and the drama that unfolds in their adolescent minds.

When the member of a rival family decides to close a road that has been used by Nik's father and his ancestors to deliver goods, his father decides to take matters into his own hands. Nik (Tristan Halilaj) and his sister Rudina (Sindi Lacej) are High School students, normal kids that are torned between the advances of the modern world and the rural life they are used to. When a murder is committed, both of their lives change dramatically without them having any say in the issue. In order for the male members of the offender's family to remain safe from the rightful murderous anger of the offended family, all of them must remain in isolation in their home until an agreement has been reached. This is an indefinite time in which the boys in the family can't even attend school or play in the front yard. For Nik this is torturous, a normal kid who is falling in love for the first time, who wants to go to parties and have friends. He must stay at home to, in a way, pay for a crime his father committed. For the sister there is no good news either. Their mother is sick and since none of the men can go outside, Rudina must also quit school to take over the bread delivery business of the family. Even though, we do see on occasion some  hostile attacks from their enemies, the real drama unfolds inside their own house. The younger kids becoming increasingly disturbed, Nik turning anxious, violent and desperate even losing respect fro his own father, and Rudina suffering to find ways to make more money to sustain the family.

The film is very well written and beautifully shot in a way that it feels extremely natural. Handheld shots and natural light give it a rustic appeal, and a sort of visual hopelessness that is sad but beautiful.The main idea here is this clash of what it used to be and what the rest of the world is doing. We see Nik and his friend posting pictures on Facebook,  playing Play Station with his younger brother, or even communicating with his classmates through a camera phone. All of these hints to the modern age feel fitting and out of place at once within this Balkan honor tale. Is it possible that such violent administration of justice is still being carried out? In a sense Nik is rebelling to the establishment of his roots by conforming to the technological trends of the time. He does want to be free and finds no place in his freedom for his father's mistakes. Its a son standing up to his father and his beliefs, trying to be his own man. However, we see this convulsion of ideas in Rudina too, she drives her dad's old horse-drawn carriage that seems out of place followed by modern vehicles, until one day she decides to sell the horse. This symbolizes and end to an era, a change in things that makes us wonder if its really that much better to follow the steps of the rest of us. Perhaps with not a real twist at the end, the film is well crafted to the last detail to expose its theme of juvenile angst against the background of Albanian feudal laws.

Using non-actors and very minimalistic settings Marston captures a certain foreign beauty and an organic feel. Very interesting and revealing for those like me who were not familiar with this Balkan way of life. At times a bit too consistent in its implementation of modern gadgets to prove its point, and lacking a more satisfying ending, it is still a great watch. The film is now available in Blu-ray/DVD or for even more convenience its on Netflix to stream instantly. Grade B+