Dhimitër Anagnosti
Encyclopedia
Dhimitër Anagnosti is probably the most important Albania
n film director
of the 20th century. He was a member of the Parliament of Albania in the 1990s and a Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. For his contribution in film, he received the People's Artist of Albania
medal.
, Himara municipality, District of Vlorë Albania
. After graduating the Ali Demi
high school in Vlorë
, he pursued his studies and graduated as a film director in Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography
of Moscow
.
In 1961, along with Viktor Gjika, Anagnosti directed the film, Njeriu kurrë nuk vdes (The Man Never Dies), using as a script a short story from American writer, Ernest Hemingway
. The work earned him First Prize in the World's Festival of Cinematographic Schools, in the Netherlands
.
Overall he has directed 14 films and 10 documentaries, and has won many national and international prizes. He is also the screenwriter
of most of the films he directs.
For his extraordinary performance of some of the best Albanian films, he has been given the title Merited Artist of Albania
, and in 1987, People's Artist of Albania
. During the communist rule of Albania, however, many of his works were censored. He won the Cup to the Carrier in the Ninth Festival of the Albanian Film.
. On April 12, 1992, he took over the post of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. He resigned on December 4, 1994. The reasons for his resignation were that Sali Berisha
, then President of Albania, had not recognized the negative result of a popular referendum for a new constitution as his own political failure, and had not resigned himself.
In 2001 Anagnosti returned to his directing skills after many years of absence. For the National Theater of Albania
, he directed the stage drama, "Nata e trokitjeve në xham" (Night of the Knocks on the Window). In 2005 he also directed a film, Gjoleka, djali i Abazit (Father and Godfather): The film won two international prizes in Italy
.
.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
of the 20th century. He was a member of the Parliament of Albania in the 1990s and a Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. For his contribution in film, he received the People's Artist of Albania
People's Artist of Albania
People's Artist of Albania was an honorary title for the decoration of outstanding art performers of People's Socialist Republic of Albania, whose merits were exceptional in the sphere of development of the performing arts . It was created by law in 1960 and amended in 1980. The title was no longer...
medal.
Early life
Anagnosti was born on January 23, 1936 in VunoVuno
Vuno is a village in the Albanian Riviera. It is located in the municipality of Himarë, in the District of Vlorë, Albania, along the road between Himarë and Dhërmi...
, Himara municipality, District of Vlorë Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. After graduating the Ali Demi
Ali Demi
Ali Demi is a Hero of Albania of World War II, born in Filiates, Greece in 1918, and died during a battle with German forces in Vlora, Albania in 1943....
high school in Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
, he pursued his studies and graduated as a film director in Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography
Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography
The Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov), VGIK for short, is a film school in Moscow, Russia.-History:...
of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
In 1961, along with Viktor Gjika, Anagnosti directed the film, Njeriu kurrë nuk vdes (The Man Never Dies), using as a script a short story from American writer, Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
. The work earned him First Prize in the World's Festival of Cinematographic Schools, in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Career
He started to work as a cineast within Kinostudio Shqipëria e Re in 1961, with the film, Debatik in 1961 and subsequently with the film Toka jonë (Our Land) in 1964. He is also the writer of the first Albanian color documentary, Gurët dekorativë (Decorative stones). In 1966 Anagnosti co-directed, with Viktor Gjika, Komisari i dritës (The Commissary of the Light), and a year later he directed Duel i heshtur (Silent Duel).Overall he has directed 14 films and 10 documentaries, and has won many national and international prizes. He is also the screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
of most of the films he directs.
For his extraordinary performance of some of the best Albanian films, he has been given the title Merited Artist of Albania
Merited Artist of Albania
Merited Artist of Albania was a state honorary title for the decoration of outstanding art performers of People's Socialist Republic of Albania. It was created by law in 1960 and amended in 1980...
, and in 1987, People's Artist of Albania
People's Artist of Albania
People's Artist of Albania was an honorary title for the decoration of outstanding art performers of People's Socialist Republic of Albania, whose merits were exceptional in the sphere of development of the performing arts . It was created by law in 1960 and amended in 1980. The title was no longer...
. During the communist rule of Albania, however, many of his works were censored. He won the Cup to the Carrier in the Ninth Festival of the Albanian Film.
Political career
Between 1991-1996, Anagnosti was involved in politics. He was elected Member of the Albanian Parliament as a deputy of the Democratic Party of AlbaniaDemocratic Party of Albania
The Democratic Party of Albania is a center-right, Conservative, political party in Albania and the leading party in the governing coalition since the 2005 parliamentary elections...
. On April 12, 1992, he took over the post of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. He resigned on December 4, 1994. The reasons for his resignation were that Sali Berisha
Sali Berisha
Sali Ram Berisha is an Albanian politician and cardiologist, currently the Prime Minister of Albania and the leader of Democratic Party of Albania ....
, then President of Albania, had not recognized the negative result of a popular referendum for a new constitution as his own political failure, and had not resigned himself.
Return to art
After leaving politics, Anagnosti created the Foundation for Art and Culture, endorsing the most active artists and contributing to the enhancement of Albanian culture and its international exposure. Among other things, this foundation has enabled the publication of 160 books.In 2001 Anagnosti returned to his directing skills after many years of absence. For the National Theater of Albania
National Theater of Albania
-History:The building of the Theater dates 1939. It was previously a movie theater. Later was called Kosovo Movie Theater . The inauguration and naming to Professional Theater of the Country occurred on May 24, 1945. Later the theater was called Popular Theater...
, he directed the stage drama, "Nata e trokitjeve në xham" (Night of the Knocks on the Window). In 2005 he also directed a film, Gjoleka, djali i Abazit (Father and Godfather): The film won two international prizes in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Personal life
He is married to the well-known Albanian actress Roza Anagnosti (Xhuxha), a Merited Artist of AlbaniaMerited Artist of Albania
Merited Artist of Albania was a state honorary title for the decoration of outstanding art performers of People's Socialist Republic of Albania. It was created by law in 1960 and amended in 1980...
.
Film direction
The following is a list of films directed by Anagnosti.- Gjoleka i biri i Abazit (2006) (Father and Godfather)
- Kthimi i ushtrisë së vdekur (1989) (Return of the Dead Army)
- Përrallë nga e kaluara (1987) (Tale from the Past)
- Gurët e shtëpisë sime (1985) (Stones of my House)
- Kujtime nga Gjirokastra (1983) (Memories from Gjirokaster)
- Vëllezër dhe shokë (1982) (Brothers and Friends)
- Në shtepinë tonë (1979) (In our Home)
- Monumenti (film)|Monumenti (1977) (The Monument)
- Lulëkuqet mbi mure (1976) (Poppies on Walls)
- Kur hiqen maskat (1975) (When Masks are Taken Away)
- Cuca e maleve (1974) (The Girl of the Mountains)
- Përjetërsi (1974) (Foreverness)
- Motive nga dita e diel (1973) (Motives from a Sunday)
- Malet me blerim mbuluar (1971) (Mountains of Green Filled)
- Parafabrikatet (1970) (Parafabrics)
- Plagë të vjetra (1968) (Old Wounds)
- Duel i heshtur (1967) (Silent Duel)
- Komisari i dritës (1966) (Commissary of the Light)
- Njeriu kurrë nuk vdes (1961) (The Man Never Dies)