09/08/2023
The premiere of the work "117 Resounded" was performed last night at Lumbardhi Bahçe. In this special screening, Besim Sahatciu's ant(hrop)ological documentary was revisited with a musical score composed and performed live by the Lumbardhi Experimental Ensemble, led by Ilir Bajri.
The hearts of those present in this audio and visual treat were warmed despite the evening’s chilly weather. The appreciation for the screening and the musicians was shown with a long-standing ovation.
The atmosphere created in this venue was magical as the Lumbardhi Experimental Ensemble under the guidance of pianist and composer Ilir Bajri took everyone on a trip back in decades to meet visually a traditional Kosovan family, in their living environment.
Shot in the Kosovar village of Nevokaze, the documentary depicts the traditional lifestyle of an Albanian family numbering 117 members, all living under one roof and in great harmony. Hailed by critics as the “spiritual portrait of the nation” it marked a turning point in Kosovar documentary cinema by introducing high aesthetical values never before seen in Kosovo’s film history.
Winner of the Grand Prix at the 1978 Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival, this is one of the finest examples of ethnographic film from this region and certainly the best ethnographic documentary to come from Kosovo in a long time.
This special screening followed a seven-day workshop of the Experimental Ensemble of Lumbardhi, where musicians led by Ilir Bajri composed and produced a soundtrack for Besim Sahatçiu's short documentary "117" released in 1976.
This was a true treat for eyes and ears while immersing in a small piece of Kosovo’s history.
Photo: Kushtrim Haxha
