Considered by scholars as a spiritual portrait of the nation, the documentary film “117” by screenwriter and director Besim Sahatçiu was screened in Tirana as part of Kosovo Culture Week.

The film portrays the life of a family of 117 members living under one roof, offering a unique testimony of traditional Albanian life. The restored film provides a vivid visual memory of a form of communal living that no longer exists today.

Present at the screening were filmmaker Afrim Spahiu, the film’s director of photography, as well as representatives from the Kosovo Cinematography Center, while Rita Ora, the niece of director Besim Sahatçiu, sent a special greeting through a video message.

Filmmaker Afrim Spahiu said that this film is a cornerstone in Kosovo’s cinematic history.

“This film is special because it captures a rare moment. The production team managed to document the life of this family of 117 members within 24 hours,” he said.

In this film, the director chose to let the imagery speak for itself, without narration, giving the work an artistic dimension that transformed it into an iconic piece.

The film was produced by Kosova Film in 1976.