The film shot in 1989, “Years of Waiting” by director Esat Musliu, was shown after the restoration. The film deals with the phenomenon of emigration. The event takes place in the 1920s and focuses on the fates of women when men are on the run. Between prejudice, stigma and the burden of supporting families, the woman appears almost alone, in a film that preceded mass emigration.

The film has been restored thanks to the cooperation of the Central State Film Archive with the “Albanian Cinema Project” and the help of Reto Kromer. The director focuses on the collaboration with the actor Xhevdet Feri who was at the peak of his career.

Many actors in the film reunited to see it restored. Xhevdet Feri was absent, as he has been physically absent since 2020. The film was also a homage to him, for the unattainable roles and unique portraits he created in cinemas like this one, where he starred in together his wife Rozeta Feri.

In the absence of Xhevdet Feri, Rozeta was present and remembered with big emotion the time of the shooting.
In the rerun of the film, there were again three women, that gave strong messages, longing for those who were missing, bringing back the memories of those who passed away early.

It was an ‘in memoriam’ for Xhevdet Feri, this accomplished, confident ans passionate actor that tought everyone how to construct a role. The personality that he brought out in his characters onstage and in movies is what made him unique as an actor.

After “Horse Death”, “Years of Waiting” is the second restored film. The film was screened in Switzerland with the financial support of Fabula Films. The premiere of the restored film was screened at the prestigious Goeast Film Festival and a sequence of it at the Venice Film Festival.

/Klara Ruci/