Albania (1945)
A rare Soviet documentary by Roman Karmen capturing Albanian life at the dawn of communist rule in 1944.
Albania - Movie Information
- Original Title: Shqipëria
- Release Year: 1945
- Directed by: Roman Karmen
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Documentary
- Runtime: 27m
- Original Language: Albanian
- Spoken Languages: Russian
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 1, 1945 (AL)
- Production Companies: Central Studio of Documentary Films
- Production Countries: Soviet Union
Albania - Plot
Made by the highly influential Russian cameraman Roman Karmen, this documentary vividly features Albanian life immediately after the communists came to power in 1944. The film is especially memorable since it's missing much of the heavy socialist realism that marked Albanian doc making. Shortly after he completed the film, Karmen set off for Berlin to shoot the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
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Albania - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Roman Karmen
Albania - FAQs
What is Albania (1945) about?
Albania is a short Soviet documentary filmed by Roman Karmen that captures everyday Albanian life in the immediate aftermath of the communist seizure of power in 1944. Remarkably candid for its era, the film avoids the heavy-handed socialist realism typical of Albanian documentary production at the time.
Who directed the 1945 documentary Albania?
Roman Karmen directed Albania. One of the most celebrated Soviet documentary filmmakers and cameramen of the 20th century, Karmen was renowned for his frontline work during World War II. Shortly after completing this film, he traveled to Berlin to document the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
Why is Albania (1945) considered historically significant?
The film stands out because it offers a relatively unfiltered glimpse of Albanian society just as communist rule was being established — without the rigid socialist realist aesthetic that would dominate Albanian documentary filmmaking for decades. That makes it a rare and genuinely valuable historical document of a pivotal transitional moment.
Is Albania (1945) a propaganda film?
While the film was produced within a Soviet ideological context and carries propagandistic undertones, it is notably lighter in that regard than most contemporaneous Albanian documentaries. Roman Karmen's observational style gives the footage an authenticity that sets it apart from more overtly doctrinaire communist propaganda films of the period.
When was the documentary Albania released?
Albania was released on January 1, 1945, in Albania. It was produced by the Central Studio of Documentary Films in the Soviet Union and clocks in at just 27 minutes, making it a compact but historically rich short documentary.
How long is the documentary Albania (1945)?
Albania runs for 27 minutes. Despite its brief runtime, the film packs in a vivid portrait of Albanian society at a defining crossroads — the transition to communist governance in 1944 — making every minute count as a historical record.
What language is the 1945 documentary Albania in?
The film's original language is Albanian, though the spoken language featured is Russian, reflecting its Soviet production origins. It was made by the Central Studio of Documentary Films in the Soviet Union and directed by the prominent Russian cameraman Roman Karmen.
What are similar documentaries to Albania (1945)?
If you enjoy Albania, you might also appreciate Land Without Bread (1933), Victory in the West (1941), The Atomic Cafe (1982), and The History of the Civil War (1921). These documentaries similarly explore political upheaval, wartime realities, and ideological history through compelling archival and observational filmmaking.
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