HESHTJA E SIRENAVE

Avni and Gezim, two Kosovar patrolmen, earn a little extra money by taking bribes from caught speeders. When one of the drivers turns out to be an arrogant Western war crimes lawyer with a bag full of money in the back seat, Avni's sense of justice and hunting instinct awaken: maybe the case will be enough for a long-awaited promotion? But the detainee has good connections; Avni has stirred up a well-greased system that will now become a threat to him and his family. Gazmend Nela’s film is a detailed study of the anatomy of corruption at both private and public levels. The local context is conveyed through gray landscapes with one-story village houses and fuming smokestacks, through references to the Kosovo War and unresolved war crimes. However, the story itself could have taken place elsewhere in Europe. The scenario is always the same. Small bribes turn into major economic crimes, and the easy compromise with conscience eventually leads to the loss of basic humanity.

Text: Ksenia Reutova