And the night belongs to … ‘Kthimi’

It started with children carrying candles. It carried on through a parading of the American flag. And it ended, as most things involving Pristina's eighth-annual 9/11 Dedication Film Festival seemed to, with a party, a bit of dancing, a lot of drink and, on this might at least, the cast and crew of the film "Kthimi" celebrating their near sweep of the jury's prizes.

 

"Kthimi," which translates as "Return," took six of the festival's eight awards. Not only did it take Best Film and Best Director (for Blerta Zeqiri), Best Editing and Best Cinematography, but it took home Best Screenplay and Best Actress (Adriana Matoshi) as well. It missed only Best Music and Best Actor (which went to Veton Osmani for his comic role in the film "SOS").

 

“Kthimi” tells the story of a man and woman, long separated, who ended up reunited — though more than the normal number of difficulties stand in the way of their ever regaining any real sense of reconnection. I'd write even more but I'm going to try to get permission to bring the film home so we can play it at the Spokane International Film Festival. So I don’t want to give anything away.

 

Turns out this event was a big deal as it attracted the presences of the American ambassador, the president of the Republic of Kosovo and the country's minister of culture. They were among 360 or so who filled the audience of the National Theatre to see clips of the films, to hear speeches by the winners and other dignitaries and to see the winning film screened for a second time.

 

And watching “Kthimi” a second time not only cemented my belief that it’s a fine film but underscored my faith in having voted for it.

 

Earlier, in front of the theater, a number of ceremonies had taken place, including a parade of children carrying candles, which they placed on the theater’s front steps before a row of American flags. Again, I was struck by how much Kosovars care for the United States.

 

Amazing, really, to have a city in Eastern Europe whose two main intersecting drags have been renamed Bill Clinton and George Bush boulevards. Ironic that such a symbolic meeting is likely never to take place between the political parties the two men actually represent.

 

Anyway, I’m going to try not to let that sad probability be the enduring image I take away from this trip. I’d much rather recall the full moon that shone over Pristina this evening and the look of excitement on the children’s faces as, in the glow of both the moonlight and a half dozen television and flashing paparazzi cameras, they carefully placed their candles before America’s classic symbol.

 

I admired, and I envied, their innocence. I remember when I had that kind of simple faith.

 

Seems like centuries ago.