Gjama

Story

Synopsis

“Gjama” is a rarely practiced mourning ritual that was performed by Albanian men throughout the centuries. By shouting specific phrases and acting out a strict choreography, it is a way of paying respect to the deceased but also overcoming grief and pain over the loss of a loved one. Through the documentation of the re-enactment of the ritual, Zgjim Elshani seeks to recover fragments of the practice in the communities where this form of collective grieving is still a way of overcoming loss. By doing so, the project intends to rethink collective grieving and what it means to publicly display emotions in a male-headed society.

Director

Zgjim Elshani

Language

Albanian

Country

Albania, Netherlands, Kosovo

Release date

8 October 2021

Ensemble

Cast

• Geg Zefi

  Themself

• Gjon Kosteri

  Themself

• Kol Martini

  Themself

• Ndue Fusha

  Themself

• Gjon Fiku

  Themself

• Sokol Kodra

  Themself

• Ndue Deda

  Themself

• Kol Zefi

  Themself

• Gjelosh Fusha

  Themself

• Pale Zefi

  Themself

• Pjeter Shytani

  Themself

• Prel Toma

  Themself