The Forgiveness of Blood
American director Joshua Marston emerged in 2004 with the jolting, Oscar-nominated Maria Full of Grace, about a young Colombian woman working as a drug mule. In his remarkable follow-up, The Forgiveness of Blood, he turns his camera on another corner of the world: contemporary northern Albania, a place still troubled by the ancient custom of interfamilial blood feuds. From this reality, Marston sculpts a fictional narrative about a teenage brother and sister physically and emotionally trapped in a cycle of violence, a result of their father’s entanglement with a rival clan over a piece of land. The Forgiveness of Blood is a tense and perceptive depiction of a place where tradition and progress coexist uneasily, as well as a dynamic coming-of-age drama.
Director-Approved Special Edition Features
- New high-definition digital transfer, approved by director of photography Rob Hardy, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition
- Audio commentary by director and cowriter Joshua Marston
- Two new video programs: Acting Close to Home, a discussion between Marston and actors Refet Abazi, Tristan Halilaj, and Sindi Laçej, and Truth on the Ground, featuring new and on-set interviews with producer Paul Mezey, Abazi, Halilaj, and Laçej
- Audition and rehearsal footage
- Trailer
- PLUS: A new essay by film writer Oscar Moralde
New cover by Jason Hardy
Director-Approved Special Edition Features
- New high-definition digital transfer, approved by director of photography Rob Hardy, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition
- Audio commentary by director and cowriter Joshua Marston
- Two new video programs: Acting Close to Home, a discussion between Marston and actors Refet Abazi, Tristan Halilaj, and Sindi Laçej, and Truth on the Ground, featuring new and on-set interviews with producer Paul Mezey, Abazi, Halilaj, and Laçej
- Audition and rehearsal footage
- Trailer
- PLUS: A new essay by film writer Oscar Moralde
New cover by Jason Hardy
Cast
- Tristan Halilaj
- Nik
- Refet Abazi
- Mark
- Zana Hasaj
- Bardha
- Erjon Mani
- Tom
- Luan Jaha
- Zef
- Çun Lajçi
- Ded
- Veton Osmani
- Sokol
- Selman Lokaj
- Kreshnik
- Kol Zefi
- Shpend
- Sindi Laçej
- Rudina
- Ilire Vinca Çelaj
- Drita
- Esmeralda Gjonlulaj
- Bora
- Elsajed Tallalli
- Dren
- Ibrahim Ymeri
- School director
- Servete Haxhija
- Mara
- Arlind Lleshi
- Loran
- Alfred Lisi
- Fatmir
- Edmond Pepkolaj
- Police captain
- Geg Zefi
- Afrim
- Pjeter Noshi
- Besim
- Gjon Lula
- Cen
- Isuf Duraj
- Gjergj, the barkeep
- Sabri Haxhija
- Lekë, the shopkeeper
- Xhevdet Shima
- Mr. Skendaj
- Gjin Basha
- Hasan Pema
- Arben Buhaj
- Burim
- Fatmir Shabaj
- Horse buyer
Credits
- Director
- Joshua Marston
- Written by
- Joshua Marston
- Written by
- Andamion Murataj
- Produced by
- Paul Mezey
- Executive producer
- Janine Gold
- Executive producers
- Eric Abraham
- Executive producers
- Domenico Procacci
- Executive producers
- Hunter Gray
- Executive producers
- Tyler Brodie
- Coproducers
- Andamion Murataj
- Coproducers
- Gwen Bialic
- Associate producer
- Andrew Goldman
- Director of photography
- Rob Hardy
- Production design
- Tommaso Ortino
- Editor
- Malcolm Jamieson
- Music
- Jacobo Lieberman
- Music
- Leonardo Heiblum
- Costume designer
- Emir Turkeshi
- Set photography
- Anila Jaho
