Event

International Film: HIVE

In a tight-knit town in Kosovo, families struggle to make ends meet as they anxiously await news of husbands, fathers, and sons who were ripped away by the war. When Fahrijes bees stop producing honey, she acquires her drivers license and ventures into the city to sell homemade ajvar in a local grocery store. Fahrijes ingenuity and ambition challenge the conservative townspeople, who are steadfast on traditional roles and patriarchal expectations. She disregards insults, gossip, and even physical attacks to empower a community of women to be self-reliant and independent in order to survive together.

Anchored by Yllka Gashis subdued yet intensely emotional performance, writer/director Blerta Bashollis captivating debut is layered with honesty and authenticity. Her naturalistic camera focuses on the high-stakes enterprise Fahrije takes on while mourning the disappearance of her husband, navigating a new world, and surprising herself and those around her. Based on a real story, Hive is a quiet, uplifting gem that highlights the strength in its characters as it proves nothing can stop women on a mission.

A film by BLERTA BASHOLLI
Blerta Basholli is a writer/director with a unique realistic visual style. Her stories touch upon social and gender issues in Kosovo, the country where she was born and raised. In 2008 Basholli was awarded with the Dean's Fellowship at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She lived for four years in New York City, where she had the opportunity to work on several film projects as a student.