TIRANA – The New York Times has named the Albanian film ‘Pikë Uji’ [Drowning Dry], directed by Robert Budina, among five films to watch this month.

The newspaper states that the film shows the dark side of power. It combines corruption with the moral decline of society. The main character is a woman in power whose world suddenly collapses.

This marks an important success for Albanian cinema. It brings the film to the attention of international opinion and foreign critics.

The New York Times provides details about the storyline. Aida, played by Gresa Pallaska, lives with her husband Ilir, played by Arben Bajraktaraj, in a high-rise above Pogradec. Their apartment has glass windows that overlook Lake Ohrid. Both work in the municipality on profitable projects. From the start, the article stresses that Aida leads, while Ilir only benefits from her.

Suddenly, Aida’s luxurious life stops. Her teenage son Mark, played by Iancu Paulo, faces charges of raping a classmate. Police arrest him. The mayor’s son also appears in the case. Aida reacts by denying the accusations and blaming the victim. She also makes desperate promises to use money and influence to free Mark.

As events unfold, Aida struggles to keep her self-image intact. She realizes that her marriage may have been a mistake. She also sees that her son lacks moral values.

Director Robert Budina places the story in a tense atmosphere. He uses blue and gray tones with distorted perspectives. In this way, the film shows the deep corruption that lies beneath wealth and power.

/a.p./