A State Film

synopsis

An analytical look at Enver Hoxha’s Albanian dictatorship, through archival materials originally created as tools of state propaganda. The film traces four decades of the country’s development, from the end of World War II to the end of the communist regime, doing so without commentary, using only images and montage. This approach emphasizes that the archive is not a neutral witness to the past, but an active agent that not only records history, but also shapes it. The selection of images combines chronology with thematic blocks that show the monumentality of mass parades and political rituals, as well as more intimate moments of the dictator, such as his drives in a black Mercedes. These motifs take on a symbolic value, and suggest the loneliness and isolation of power. The film raises the question of how forms of propaganda have changed, and to what extent today’s media images follow historical patterns. The result is a work that transcends the framework of national history, and explores the function of the image in the political sphere, and its ability to create collective memory.

“Sejko’s documentary demonstrates how the archive is not just a repository of images, but a tool for interpreting and rewriting history.” — Bianca Ferrari

Source: Bianca Ferrari: "Film di Stato": un viaggio nelle immagini della dittatura albanese di Enver Hoxha.

biography

Originally from Albania, director, documentary filmmaker, and producer Roland Sejko (b. 1968) lives and works in Rome. He is the head of the editorial department of the Cinecittà Luce film archive, and is also involved in film distribution and cultural journalism. His documentary films are renowned for their innovative use of archival materials.

film details

director:	Roland Sejko
producer:	Marlon Pellegrini, Maura Cosenza
script:	Roland Sejko
editing:	Luca Onorati
music:	Riccardo Giagni
sound:	Paolo Amici
executive producer:	Maura Cosenza

contact

Marlon Pellegrini
m.pellegrini@cinecitta.it