A fairy tale from the past The Arsenal of Albanian cinema, to put it mildly, is not too rich in decent paintings. But as it turns out, there are always exceptions. “Tell me a story” is a good example. Dimiter Anagnost, perhaps one of the most famous Albanian film figures, studied at the Faculty of Cinematography at VGIK in Moscow. In 1987, he directed the comedy Tell Me a Tale based on the play Fourteen-Year-Old Groom, written in 1913 by Albanian poet and playwright Andon Zak Chayupi. The play is very popular in professional Albanian theaters and in Albanian-speaking amateur drama clubs.
The film follows a peasant family in a village where men spend time talking with a cup of coffee, while women work in the fields and do housework. Gino, a fourteen-year-old who loves fairy tales, is still a child. His parents decide to marry him. The family needs a worker. The choice fell on a mature beauty - twenty-year-old Marigo. Marigo has a fiancé, but that's not an obstacle for Gino's well-to-do parents. Marigo, of course, comes from a poor family. The marriage of a fourteen-year-old boy to a girlfriend in the past was a reality that has been criticized. In our time, it seems like a “fairy tale from the past.” Marigo is filled with anger and protest against being forced to marry Gino, 14, naive and blameless. Both are victims of social injustice. Marigot fights for true love and happiness. Various schemes (revenge, deception) are used in this war. Everyone wants to achieve their ultimate goal, the struggle continues.
The acting ensemble can be called successful with confidence. And the beautiful Albanian Elvira Diamanti (Marigo), and Admir Sorra (Gino), who at the time of filming was only 12 years old. Anagnost chose him from a few thousand boys and did not miss. Admiral Sorra is widely popular in Albania thanks to this painting. As for Elvira Diamanti, who played more than a dozen roles, “Tell me a fairy tale” remains the hallmark of the actress. The film received many prizes, received prizes and Khairia Rondo, and Elvira Diamanti.
“Fairy tale” is a cheerful, soulful comedy, which is imbued with folklore and national color.
Bravo, Albania!