THE ALBANIAN VIRGIN

VIRGJERESHA SHQIPTARE

By Bujar ALIMANI

THE PLAYMAKER MUNICH (A BRAND OF B.A. PRODUKTION GMBH) - as SALES All rights, World

Drama - Completed 2021


1958, Albania: An arranged marriage forces Luana to deny her love for Agim. To meet her father’s expectations, she almost sacrifices her love, when she realizes that the KANUN is to the benefit of men only. She has to become one of them- A man.

Festivals
& Awards

Warsaw FF 2021
Official Competition
American Film Market (AFM) 2022
    • Year of production
    • 2021
    • Genres
    • Drama, Historical
    • Countries
    • GERMANY, ALBANIA, KOSOVO, BELGIUM
    • Languages
    • ALBANIAN
    • Budget
    • 1 - 3 M$
    • Duration
    • 123 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Bujar ALIMANI
    • Writer(s)
    • Katja KITTENDORF
    • Producer(s)
    • Anita ELSANI (Elsani & Neary Media GmbH), Lesley NEARY (Elsani & Neary Media GmbH)
    • Synopsis
    • Albania 1958: LUANA, daughter of a well-respected man, and AGIM, whose familiy was banned from the city by the communists, grow up in the same village. Their friendship turns into love, but Luana is promised to Flamur Fiku and when her father ERION finds out he immediately arranges for Luana to be married. Agim wants to flee with her, but Luana feels bound by the loyalty to her family and fears for Agim´s life. She leaves Agim and tries to be a good bride. When Erion witnesses Luana being cruelly denigrated by Flamur, he breaks the engagement. In the ensuing fight, Flamur kills Erion. He denies his guilt by maintaining that Luana wasn't a virgin. The men of the village order a humiliating examination. Being a woman becomes a curse for Luana. She tries to flee with Agim. When the plan tragically fails, she decides to follow an ancient custom, that allows her to swear to remain a virgin and to live as a man, a ,Burrnesha". She will be head of the family and avenge her father's blood...