About

The tragic civil wars that raged in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s have become a catalyst for some powerful films. 'Zana' is a fictional look at the aftermath of one historical aspect – the Kosovo conflict in the late 1990s. Lume and her husband Ilir survived the war, but their daughter Zana was killed in the crossfire. As the years pass on their farm, where they live with Ilir's mother, Lume desperately tries to get pregnant again, but to no avail. Instead, she suffers from regular nightmares from the stress, whilst her mother-in-law presses her son to take a second wife so that he can have more children.

In desperation, Lume agrees to see some faith healers to see if this makes any difference. One is a wise woman from her own village, while another is a rather more sinister figure who charges a hefty sum for a consultation. Kosovan writer-director Antoneta Kastrati gives an insider's view of her homeland: a deeply traditional and patriarchal society which is gradually integrating into the modern world. Having survived the war in the late 1990s, she started making documentaries that addressed unexplored issues in a post-war society. Zana is her debut feature film and was nominated as Kosovo's entry for the 2020 Oscars.

Non-member tickets are £5 (full-time students £3) and can be purchased in advance from The Exchange's Box Office online at http://exchangetwickenham.co.uk/events, by telephone 020 8240 2399 or in person.

For further information on RFS and the programme of films, please visit
http://www.richmondfilmsoc.org.uk