''The Gramophone General'' () is a 1979 Albanian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed and written by

Vath Koreshi Vath Koreshi (1936–2006) was one of the most renowned Albanian novelists A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists ...

. The soundtrack by

Aleksandër Peçi Aleksandër Peçi (born 11 July 1951 in Tirana) is an Albanian composer. Peçi has composed for movie soundtracks, symphonic, ballet, and operatic settings, among many others. Education He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Mus ...

was recorded by Remzi Lela and

Mentor Xhemali Mentor Xhemali (),(May 11, 1926 - July 11, 1992) was a notable Albanian singer. He was well known as a baritone all over the world. He was born in Përmet Përmet () is a List of cities and towns in Albania, town and Municipalities of Albania, mu ...

. A

4K resolution 4K resolution refers to a horizontal display resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels. Digital television and digital cinematography commonly use several different 4K resolutions. In television and consumer media, 38402160 (4K UHD) with a 16:9 asp ...

restoration was released in 2023.

Plot

In the mid-1930s, the penetration and preparation of the Italian invasion of 1939 began. Halit Berati, a virtuoso clarinetist and Parandili, are invited by an Italian entrepreneur to record in gramophone plates, their tunes which will be sold together with Italian music the time of fascism. During this time the strikes of oil workers begin where Halit Berati is a worker.

Cast

Bujar Lako Bujar Lako (23 May 1946 – 26 December 2016) was an Albanian actor who appeared in numerous films and theaters, playing the lead roles of hundreds characters. He died on 26 December 2016, at the age of 70. Filmography References Exter ...

- Halit Berati *Guljelm Radoja - Mr. Alberto *

Kadri Roshi Kadri Maksut Roshi (4 January 1924 – 6 February 2007) was an Albanian actor. His great performances in films and theater named him a truly legend, and People's Artist of Albania. His performances were characterized by a profound depth and auth ...

- Parandil *

Sulejman Pitarka Sulejman Pitarka (2 February 1924 – 24 March 2007) was an Albanian actor, writer, and playwright. His family moved to Durrës, Albania, when he was five. His brother was Bashkim Pitarka, who became an Albanian diplomat. He was active in films ...

- Avdi *

Reshat Arbana Reshat Arbana (born 15 September 1940) is an Albanian actor. His great voice, talent and numerous performances of different characters in films and theatre, made him to awarded as People's Artist of Albania. Career Arbana's first role was in 1 ...

- mayor *Sheri Mita - Michele *

Stavri Shkurti Stavri is both an Albanian masculine given name and surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Stavri Lubonja (1935-2024), Albanian footballer and manager * Stavri Nica (born 1954), Albanian football coach Surname * Artur ...

- Braho

Production

''The General Gramophone'' was directed by

Viktor Gjika Viktor Gjika (23 June 1937 – 3 March 2009) was an Albanian director, filmmaker and screenwriter. For his distinguished and remarkable contribution to the cinema, he was awarded the highest title as People's Artist (Albania), People's Artist i ...

and written by

. Koreshi named the main character Halit after the clarinetist Halit Përmeti.

composed the soundtrack and all of the music was recorded by Remzi Lela and

. The costume design was done by

Ilia Xhokaxhi Ilia Xhokaxhi (August 28, 1948 in Tirana – 2007) was an Albanian painter, scenographer, and costume designer. He has served as the art director on a number of films. As a painter, he has exhibited in numerous art gallery, galleries both in Al ...

and Atalanda Pasko edited the film. Produced by Kinostudio, shooting was done in Qyteti Stalin,

Korçë Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, eighth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population of the city is 51,152 and 75,994 of Korçë municipal ...

, and

Berat Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and ea ...

. The 1970s was a period of Albanian cinema in which the depiction of Italians and

Fascist Italy Fascist Italy () is a term which is used in historiography to describe the Kingdom of Italy between 1922 and 1943, when Benito Mussolini and the National Fascist Party controlled the country, transforming it into a totalitarian dictatorship. Th ...

's control of Albania were common. The Azienda Italiana Petroli Albania (AIPA), which

Enver Hoxha Enver Halil Hoxha ( , ; ; 16 October 190811 April 1985) was an Albanian communist revolutionary and politician who was the leader of People's Socialist Republic of Albania, Albania from 1944 until his death in 1985. He was the Secretary (titl ...

said "sucked the blood of our economy" is featured in the film. Strikes by the union Puna at the AIPA plant in

Kuçovë Kuçovë ( sq-definite, Kuçova) is a municipality in south-central Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Kozare, Kuçovë, Lumas and Perondi, which all became municipal units. The ...

in 1935 and 1936, are reenacted in the film.

Release

''The General Gramophone'' premiered in

Tirana Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...

on 11 February 1979, and was released in Turkey. It received the award for best film at the 3rd Albanian Film Festival in April 1979. A

restoration by the Central State Film Archive was released in 2023.

External links

References

Works cited

* * * * * * * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gjeneral Gramafoni 1979 films 1979 drama films 1970s war films Albanian-language films Albanian drama films