00:00:00: Hi friends, we're still at the Kaleviwari Film Festival and it's one interview after another.

00:00:05: This time I'm talking to director Visa Marina!

00:00:08: Hi he is here with me now.

00:00:09: Thank

00:00:09: you for having me.

00:00:10: We are gonna speak about his fantastic film SHAME AND MONEY.

00:00:14: It did not premiere here but Kalaviwari always collects best films also from other festivals so You could present this very interesting drama in many festivals.

00:00:24: How was your festival journey going?

00:00:25: So far

00:00:26: Very nice actually But i was especially happy coming because my first feature premiered here.

00:00:31: This is where we had our international premiere, and I was in this very big hall with...I don't know how many seats?

00:00:37: And i was impressed by the way it was built but also as a first experience!

00:00:41: And I like Karel very much that artistic director.

00:00:44: so I was very happy being invited.

00:00:46: A lot

00:00:46: of fond memories for you here.

00:00:48: Yes a lot yeah.

00:00:49: actually I was supposed to come with my main actor on My First Feature.

00:00:52: he was also the lead and unfortunately He has back problems and he had to cancel it.

00:00:58: But maybe at another festival you have a chance to make up for the lost events?

00:01:02: Yes, but we wanted especially to be in Kaleviwali because It was both very special place to be And it's really nice Very interesting festival.

00:01:10: We're all more happy here To talk about shame and money.

00:01:15: It deals with family whose life is declined and erupted by financial and structural instability that comes absolutely.

00:01:23: unexpected events can uproot your whole existence.

00:01:28: The story is very social realist, how did you create the story and approach it style?

00:01:55: more as a human being, thinking also all those things they went through.

00:01:58: And I wanted actually to do like homage on them and also with the question how it would have been if we'd leave home now not thirty years ago but my father used to be there But i came here with mom & two of my brothers in Germany.

00:02:12: mid-nineties thing is Kosovo has gone thru so many different times.

00:02:17: There was Tito communist then Milosevic really hard dictatorship.

00:02:22: the country is stuck in between.

00:02:25: I think it's such an interesting record of time, my DOP and I were very much trying to get actually more closer to a sense of reality as we took it and less in terms of making look beautiful or... ...I wanted to be very much located and feel what i think its real.

00:02:42: So would you say this story was at least inspired by your personal family history of migration?

00:02:48: Interesting question.

00:02:49: because no on first hand Because My Family left And my family didn't, you know they left for Germany and not to the capital.

00:02:58: But the struggle and feeling and trying again-and-again To make things work this is something I know very well.

00:03:06: While editing i realized how much actually in bigger sense than I thought it would be How Much My Dad Was In There.

00:03:12: In the end I see it as a film about my parents, especially about my father.

00:03:16: So you

00:03:16: would say there's an emotional connection?

00:03:19: Not historic but emotional.

00:03:20: Yes There are some certain things that are all the same.

00:03:23: I wrote this script in the house and grew up.

00:03:25: You know i was only with family or not with my uncles My parents.

00:03:29: they did many thing...I think its not possible for them to do everything right But one thing really what we admire is They somehow managed keep pressure out of us And not involve us into sometimes really fucked-up.

00:03:42: The time under Milosevic was a horrible time, but at the same I think of my childhood as actually one of my happiest times in life.

00:03:50: Is that sometimes difficult for you to deal with this contradiction?

00:04:13: It's actually an interesting walk because it reminds me very much of acting.

00:04:23: Imagine you are crossing a street and there is two or three more soldiers, or police... ...and you were supposed to think clearly!

00:04:32: how you walk.

00:04:33: If your afraid and were afraid, then shouldnt show it because than have something to hide.

00:04:37: if u dont give a shit about the police ,then its also not right.

00:04:40: You were trying make the biggest distance for them but we thought they are realising it.

00:04:44: But after this was gone..you just forgot.

00:04:46: So danger is gone...i think that's basically life or in highway where you see bad accident And maybe few minutes later at some point you forget really, really fucked up areas.

00:05:03: You

00:05:03: already mentioned that the worst of the pressure back then was kept away from you.

00:05:08: did your research?

00:05:09: The social duress that the family near film experiences to better portray it in an contemporary context?

00:05:16: Oh

00:05:17: a lot.

00:05:17: this was very important.

00:05:18: for example line That really stood with me is and in Albania.

00:05:22: It's on to live in Germany now for a long time And I have found myself out.

00:05:26: but i write In A Better Way if I am staying in the place where the story takes place.

00:05:32: Also, because I'm more focused than ever.

00:05:34: so actually when they're sometimes I see prizes there and I wonder how people make it?

00:05:39: Sometimes I pay their more then I do paying Germany but salary that is very low while doing this as a was saying even your mom doesn't love you When You are broke to have two know them.

00:05:51: image of mother.

00:05:52: in Albanian speaking parts like iconic really liked.

00:05:55: i think its too much.

00:05:56: in Albania this line sounds more likes someone who's just realizing that even the love of your mom has to be bought.

00:06:03: This stayed so much with me, it was actually also now when I think back this is... thing that stayed the most with me.

00:06:09: Was

00:06:10: there a time in your life when you also personally experienced property?

00:06:13: If you come as a refugee to Germany, There is no way but experiencing it very bad.

00:06:19: Do you find now that you're an established artist class race like advancing in class societies actually possible?

00:06:27: or would you say that You always stay in your own class No matter how much of financial situation might change?

00:06:33: My view on what we call racism has changed A bit.

00:06:37: I feel like in the end it's a question of money.

00:06:39: So, A Question Of Class?

00:06:51: People, for example now running the state in-in the US.

00:06:54: They don't have any problems even though they might appear very racist and I think there are deeply racist but... ...they don't mind with rich Arabs For example in Germany people who were from Australia or

00:07:05: U.S.,

00:07:05: France or countries that we consider as cool.

00:07:08: Usually countries would have money.

00:07:10: Actually you dont call them foreigners.

00:07:13: You called them

00:07:14: expats

00:07:16: And a guy from Syria Or from Kosovo He's an immigrant.

00:07:21: There's

00:07:21: a duality in the title of this film between you have money that we talked about, but also shame and connected to shame is the concept of dignity which is essential.

00:07:31: Would you like to explore on your views how shame was put upon people for their social stand or position where they came from?

00:07:40: Dignity – How can people preserve it ?

00:07:43: Or if its impossible maybe to preserve it in society structures?

00:07:46: People may not believe it But I do not have relation with pride can be very happy but I got my favorite.

00:07:52: band doing my next film and I'm a complete music nerd.I am very happy about it but i would never say how proud they are, i believe there is huge.

00:08:01: you know if you live in society where everything you stand for basically come down to how much money do have?

00:08:09: And If Money becomes Part of the Identity then two things happening.

00:08:16: one thing that will be investment.

00:08:18: even saying Hi!

00:08:22: by saying hi to you.

00:08:23: I don't know how much fine i would be if everybody is saying Hi To Me, seeing it as an investment.

00:08:28: It will define everything This one thing the other things and If this happens then it become a big part of your identity.

00:08:35: And Identity also what others people see in me Don't create.

00:08:39: You Know.

00:08:39: there's a saying by Anaan Dementis The way u look at me shapes me.

00:08:44: If this money has identity Then There Is No Way But Running Straight To Hell Of Depression money.

00:08:51: and if I have to convince you all the time that i'm worth of being seen, being loved, being touched.

00:08:57: Being part of something then...I think one thing will very soon happen That it's hard to convince You but its harder to convince myself.

00:09:04: And thats why I see a big connection between those two.

00:09:08: Some circles also in my circle It is important.

00:09:11: for example where do get your food?

00:09:12: Have you eaten?

00:09:13: How was it done?

00:09:14: There are also shame

00:09:16: in them.

00:09:20: The casting

00:09:21: process was actually very nice.

00:09:23: Yeah, the country is quite small.

00:09:25: It's less than two million.

00:09:25: You don't have so many actors there if you compare it to Germany.

00:09:28: So we really need be sure how do put and what make a context.

00:09:33: I am close with Asakaboshe Also.

00:09:36: my last film at school started in Cahem In Cologne.

00:09:39: Since then were friends.

00:09:40: We did our first feature about boy And since then almost siblings He named Shaban because one day he was stoned.

00:09:48: Then Pristina.

00:10:16: You screened

00:10:16: your film at many festivals, do you pursue?

00:10:18: Steve had difference in audience reactions depending on the place or country you show

00:10:37: it.

00:10:48: kind of a net that the social network saves you.

00:10:50: You can get some money, so health insurance?

00:10:53: many don't.

00:10:54: this permanent threat off being on the street is less strong than it is in the US.

00:10:59: I was really overwhelmed how people reacted and when they actors came on stage always same rich people watch poor people being poor.

00:11:07: sometimes also questions like yes i'm surprised

00:11:10: now that you can show this film here.

00:11:12: what would you hope that your audience takes away from there?

00:11:14: if could be maybe one thing.

00:11:17: We have a certain way of living where, for example Berlin has more households.

00:11:22: Where one person lives in than families or people share... More

00:11:25: single households then family households?

00:11:27: And I think we are living in a society that you actually need to be egocentric and somehow you're thrown into yourself if you fail because it's so few.

00:11:38: This way of life supports very much everything which is not trying to see the other.

00:11:45: It sounds very cheesy but I think we would be in a better place as human beings if you have what they call, in German, empathy.

00:11:51: A tiny bit more!

00:11:52: Do

00:11:52: you have any new project with the band that you love?

00:11:55: Your favorite

00:11:55: band?!

00:11:56: I wanted to ask you... What's your new film-project?

00:11:58: so is it this one or are there several ones?

00:12:00: something like to mention maybe?

00:12:02: We're..I had today auditioned two calls was very nice person and i'm trying ..i've written a script, a love story That takes place in Cologne , Portugal & Austria.

00:12:12: Music will be an important part of our stories.

00:12:15: music is a very important part of my life, and in this film we are now trying to finance it.

00:12:21: I hope i can show

00:12:24: you next

00:12:34: year!