Gjama
- Released on
- Runtime
- 9 mins
“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.
“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.
Cast
- Geg Zefi
- Gjon Kosteri
- Kol Martini
- Ndue Fusha
- Gjon Fiku
- Sokol Kodra
- Ndue Deda
- Kol Zefi
- Gjelosh Fusha
- Pale Zefi
- Pjeter Shytani
- Prel Toma
- File Strugaçi
- Shkelzen Pali
- Gezim Gilaj
- Lindita Gilaj
- Raimonda Sulaj
- Gjon DukGilaj
- Kujtim Varfi
- Nue Shytani
- Fran Kodra
- Deda Frani
Director
- Zgjim Elshani