Time of the Comet
Encyclopedia
Time of the Comet is a 2008 Albanian
historical drama/black comedy
film adapted from a novel by Ismail Kadare
titled Black Year . The film was directed by Fatmir Koçi, while Blerim Destani
and Masiela Lusha
starred in the leading roles. German
bodybuilder and actor Ralf Möller also appeared in the film.
, heir apparent to the Austro-Hungarian
throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg
, are assassinated in Sarajevo
marking the beginning of World War I
. When Shestan learns about the beginning of the war, his companions ask him about their future actions and the film ends with Shestan replying to them "Play the music louder".
's novel. American Actress Masiela Lusha
received praise for her acting performance, however some questioned her level of knowledge in the rural gheg Albanian dialect. Lusha is known to speak the official Midland Albanian dialect. Çun Lajçi's performance as Kus Baba was also praised by many critics.
for the first time.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
historical drama/black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
film adapted from a novel by Ismail Kadare
Ismail Kadare
Ismail Kadare is an Albanian writer. He is known for his novels, although he was first noticed for his poetry collections. In the 1960s he focused on short stories until the publication of his first novel, The General of the Dead Army. In 1996 he became a lifetime member of the Academy of Moral...
titled Black Year . The film was directed by Fatmir Koçi, while Blerim Destani
Blerim Destani
- Biography :Blerim Destani was born on April 12, 1981 in Stolberg near Aachen . He spent his childhood in Tetovo, a town in Macedonia at the foot of the Sharr mountains. His entire family is of Albanian origin. Blerim has been living and working in Germany and Macedonia for the past ten years....
and Masiela Lusha
Masiela Lusha
Masiela Lusha is an American author, actress, producer and humanitarian who first gained recognition after starring in film and TV projects such as ABC's George Lopez and Sony Picture's Blood: The Last Vampire...
starred in the leading roles. German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
bodybuilder and actor Ralf Möller also appeared in the film.
Plot
The film takes place in 1914 when William of Wied was enthroned Prince of Albania, and the country was occupied by all the neighbouring countries. Shestan (Blerim Destani), a young idealist villager forms a band and travels the country trying to find enemy troops to fight. During his journeys he comes across many opposing factions like the Ottoman loyalist band of Kus Baba (Çun Lajçi) and meets Agnes (Masiela Lusha), whose father wants her to become a Catholic nun and falls in love with her. However, Shestan continues his journey and arrives at Prince William's headquarters were he offers his services and asks to fight on the frontline but the prince mocks his willingness to fight. Shestan, while being extremely disappointed decides to return to his village but on the way back home he comes across Agnes who has been kidnapped by "Mad Ahmed", a Muslim extremist and saves her. After arriving home Shestan and Agnes get married but on their wedding day Archduke Franz Ferdinand of AustriaArchduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
Franz Ferdinand was an Archduke of Austria-Este, Austro-Hungarian and Royal Prince of Hungary and of Bohemia, and from 1889 until his death, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination in Sarajevo precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia...
, heir apparent to the Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg
Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg
Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg ; 1 March 1868 – 28 June 1914) was a Czech aristocrat, the morganatic wife of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Their assassination sparked World War I.- Early life :...
, are assassinated in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
marking the beginning of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. When Shestan learns about the beginning of the war, his companions ask him about their future actions and the film ends with Shestan replying to them "Play the music louder".
Cast
- Blerim DestaniBlerim Destani- Biography :Blerim Destani was born on April 12, 1981 in Stolberg near Aachen . He spent his childhood in Tetovo, a town in Macedonia at the foot of the Sharr mountains. His entire family is of Albanian origin. Blerim has been living and working in Germany and Macedonia for the past ten years....
as Shestan - Masiela LushaMasiela LushaMasiela Lusha is an American author, actress, producer and humanitarian who first gained recognition after starring in film and TV projects such as ABC's George Lopez and Sony Picture's Blood: The Last Vampire...
as Agnes - Xhevdet Ferri as Agnes's Father
- Thomas Heinze as King Wied
- Vlado JovanovskiVlado JovanovskiVlado Jovanovski is Macedonian actor. His film credits include principal roles in prominent Macedonian films such as Bal-Can-Can and Mirage.-Filmography:* Time of the Comet * The Secret Book * Bal-Can-Can...
as Meto - Çun Lajçi as Kus Babaj
- Ralf Möller as Freiherr von Keittel
- Blerim Gjoci
- Xhevdet Jasari
- Luan Jaha as Doskë Mokrari
- Besart Kallaku
- Adem Karaga
- Gentjan Zenelaj
Reception
Time of the Comet was very successful in Albania and set a new box office record. Fatmir Koçi, the director of the film was criticized because of the script changes he made while adapting Ismail KadareIsmail Kadare
Ismail Kadare is an Albanian writer. He is known for his novels, although he was first noticed for his poetry collections. In the 1960s he focused on short stories until the publication of his first novel, The General of the Dead Army. In 1996 he became a lifetime member of the Academy of Moral...
's novel. American Actress Masiela Lusha
Masiela Lusha
Masiela Lusha is an American author, actress, producer and humanitarian who first gained recognition after starring in film and TV projects such as ABC's George Lopez and Sony Picture's Blood: The Last Vampire...
received praise for her acting performance, however some questioned her level of knowledge in the rural gheg Albanian dialect. Lusha is known to speak the official Midland Albanian dialect. Çun Lajçi's performance as Kus Baba was also praised by many critics.
Awards
The film won the Audience Award in the Prishtina International Film Festival and the Best Albanian Movie in the International Summer Film Festival, held in the city of DurrësDurrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
for the first time.