Gjama - 2021

Gjama 2021 Directed by Zgjim Elshani

“Gjama” is a rarely practiced mourning ritual that was performed by Albanian men throughout the centuries. By shouting specific phrases and acting out a strict choreography, it is a way of paying respect to the deceased but also overcoming grief and pain over the loss of a loved one. Through the documentation of the re-enactment of the ritual, Zgjim Elshani seeks to recover fragments of the practice in the communities where this form of collective grieving is still a way of overcoming loss. By doing so, the project intends to rethink collective grieving and what it means to publicly display emotions in a male-headed society.

Country Kosovo

Production Countries Albania , Kosovo , Netherlands

Language Albanian

Spoken Language Albanian

Gnere Documentary

Release Date 8 October 2021

9 mins