Hive

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Kevin L Grand filmmaking on this one. Director/writer Blerta Basholli, who also did the casting, was very much up to the task of telling story of Fahrije, her family, and the remaining people of their little village in Kosovo. This is a woman condemned to live the life of a widow without the benefit of a husband she can bury. Following the murders of over two hundred of their people, especially the men, ithout the means to support themselves, the "widows" depend on a nascent woman's support group that hands out stipends every month. Still they struggle. The leader of this support group offers them a chance at independence and self-sufficiency in the form of obtaining a driver's license. But a great many of the men are driven by what has been described as 'feudal misogyny'. Seems more like 'futile manhood', since only a pathetic excuse for a man would behave that way to anyone working so incredibly hard to keep herself and her family fed and clothed. Just as sad if not worse, is all the women who think the same. At least they aren't attacking Fahrije and other women or trying to sabotage their work. Terrified at the shame and negative scrutiny it will bring them, all but one refuses. Fahrije is willing to brave the disdain that will rain down on her. Yllka Gashi as Fahrije is stunning in her silence. Her eyes convey her pain, her body is upright in her determination. Every insult, injury, and disappointment has been etched into her somber face increasing the depth of her character. Çun Lajçi plays Haxhi, Fahrije's father in law. eventually understanding of his daughter in law's fight for survival and a better life for her kids, he conveys both the conflict between hope that his son is still alive after all these years and resignation that he will live what is left of his life not knowing. The remainder of the other Kosovar actors are exceptional in this depiction of a suppressed minority that continues to discriminate against members of its own society. Basholli has crafted a vivid film, not only of one woman's real life struggle to put food on the table but also to transcend gender and cultural oppression and stigma. Living day-to-day in the aftermath of a genocide where death is undeniable and yet still unacknowledged, Fahrije, like her circle of friends and relatives, must learn to live with memories of their lost loved ones, as it is unlikely that any of the missing are still alive. 3.8 stars Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Overall, this is a highly dramatic film filled with an unpredictable finale.  Hive is shot wonderfully and the filmmaker captures facials, emotions, unsettling situations and family drama.  With a simple plot that moves slowly, the film still managed to secure my investment for the entire duration.  I had to know the answers to the unknowns this film introduced, plus the top performance from Yllka Gashi was a downright knockout.  I was left feeling many emotions as the credits rolled, including how impressed I was by this dramatic feature. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/11/23 Full Review Audience Member a really good one, Quo Vadis Aida left me longing for a less propagandistic film from the Balkans. Would love to taste a little of that Krusha Ajvar! Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review dave d Hive is the best Albanian-Kosovan drama film I've ever seen. I think it's also the only one, but it's still not bad! Written and directed by Blerta Basholli in her directorial debut, 'Hive' tells an age old tale of war and does so in a subtle and heartfelt way. Based on a true story, the feature ends up being an uplifting jolt for the empowerment of women, young and old! Final Score: 7/10 Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review brent m When the madness of war mercilessly tears families apart, the survivors are left to pick up the pieces, a process that can sometimes be more complicated than one might expect. So it was for the women of Kosovo in the wake of the tiny Balkan republic when it was bombarded by neighboring Serbia in 1999, a conflict that resulted in the "disappearance" of many of the nation's husbands and fathers, leaving their wives and mothers to carry on. But their efforts were often thwarted by a misogynistic culture that prevented them from earning a living, even despite the absence of male breadwinners in many households. Director Berta Basholli's fact-based debut feature tells the inspiring story of a group of women who defied the barriers in setting up their own company selling honey and ajvar, a relish made from red peppers and eggplants. This moving tale explores the challenges of starting a business under difficult conditions while trying to keep their families together an dealing with the grief of lost loved ones. The filmmaker hits all of the right notes with this offering, most notably in the superb performance by Yllka Gashi as the beleaguered but defiant protagonist. With world events being what they are at the moment, this outstanding release reminds us all too poignantly about what we face in the wake of these misguided catastrophes and the difficulty of coming back from them without an abundance of courage, fortitude and determination. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a small masterpiece of cinema. It is excellent and innovative in many ways. Heartwarming but not super sweet, it deals with sad themes of loss of loved ones, and maltreatment by survivors. It shows women to be superior in many deserved ways, and is a lesson to all on dealing with the adversities in life. The technical aspects, from story telling through camera work, and all other crafts is first-class and very realistic. Bravo to this first-time director. Hopefully she will have a wonderful career. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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