Filmen i Albanien. Bildnings- eller propagandaverktyg.

Abstract

This essay will examine historically the Albanian Cinematography through four different periods. The first period will examine the years between 1905-1918´s and treats the early years of Albanian Cinematography. During this period Albania had been occupied by the Ottoman Empire for the last 450 years and in 1912 the state of Albania was created. The second period will examine the year´s between 1918-1945, when different countries such as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, fascist Italy and Nazi Germany occupied Albania. The essay will show how did this period influenced the Cinematography in Albania. The third period will examine the years between 1945-1990, the period is known of it isolated communist rule or as the cold war era. It is after 1945 that the Albanian National Cinematography develops. The fourth period will cover 1990´s the post-cold war period. During this last period, the Albanian Cinematography dealt with difficulties. This paper is a contribute within the Film Studies about the Albanian Cinematography in the Goteborg’s University and it will try to answer two main questions. The first question is: was the Cinematography in Albania in the service of the different regimes during the 1900? The second question to answer is: did the film had an educating role in Albanian society as the domestic literature claims? During the study of Albanian Cinematography I had to double check the sources in order to be certain about the facts that was published in this essay. I used the “critical eye” when i examined the sources to avoid being the messenger of the particular regime. I came to two conclusions: The film was used by the different regimes to legitimize their own rule in Albania but they couldn´t stop the film´s power as a part of the education process. The history of Albanian Cinematography is particular because it was influenced by different film styles and regimes during the 1900´s and has gained its own film identity. The historical film has become the future film.