The Forgiveness Of Blood review

An Albanian family is torn apart by murder.

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Following his 2004 Colombian drug-mule story Maria Full Of Grace , writer/director Joshua Marston (finally) returns with another realism-drenched tale set in a faraway foreign land.

This time, it’s Albania, Marston embroiling himself in the minutiae of the country’s ancient customs and ‘blood feuds’, when a bread seller kills his neighbour after an argument about crossing his land with a horse and cart.

Thoroughly researched, it smartly depicts the clash between old and new in a country aching for modernisation.

Even if it lacks a stand-out turn it’s still a grippingly authentic slice of life.

Freelance writer

James Mottram is a freelance film journalist, author of books that dive deep into films like Die Hard and Tenet, and a regular guest on the Total Film podcast. You'll find his writings on 12DOVE and Total Film, and in newspapers and magazines from across the world like The Times, The Independent, The i, Metro, The National, Marie Claire, and MindFood.