Centering on the theme of memory, Unwanted is a compelling human drama that explores the burden of history and young adulthood. From filmmaker Edon Rizvanolli, the film is set in Amsterdam and follows teenager Alban (played expertly by Jason De Ridder). Alban grew up in the Netherlands with his refugee mother Zana (Adriana Matoshi) who fled the Balkan Civil War years before. This unsettled history still haunts Alban, but when he meets the insightful Anna, his life as an exile is given a new shade—romance.
A tender and maturely crafted film, Unwanted follows the relationship between Alban and Anna with a sensitive lens, especially as their love spurs Alban to reflect on memories of the past, an act that threatens to awaken old traumas and unearth new ones. As director Rizvanolli’s feature film debut, Unwanted was Kosovo’s official submission to the 90th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
Director Biography
Edon Rizvanolli worked as both an actor and editor prior making his feature-film debut with Unwanted. Opening to wide acclaim, Unwanted has been chosen as the official Kosovan nomination for Best Foreign Language film at the Academy Awards.
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