'Hive' Trailer: Acclaimed Sundance Breakout & Kosovo's Oscar Pick Is A Searing Drama

How do we discover, and ultimately embrace, our definition of freedom? The women of “Hive” find themselves at a crossroads between their painful pasts and an equally hostile community bent on outdated norms. Blerta Basholli’s film explores the emotional toll of war while also revealing the underpinnings of societal misogyny. Its realistic portrayal of the situations at hand, along with an outstanding performance by Yllka Gashi, made it a favorite at Sundance. The title won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, Directing Award, and Audience Award at this year’s festival. “Hive” is set to continue its international run as Kosovo’s official Oscar entry. 

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Basholli came across the film’s heroine, Fahrije Hoti while listening to a Kosovo TV series. Her true story of overcoming town gossip and expectations for women instantly inspired the director to create “Hive.” “Her positivity and energy are fascinating,” Basholli said. “That is something I want to bring on-screen, a strong female character full of colors, a woman protagonist that needs to be seen by Kosovo and a wider audience.”

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The film’s official synopsis:

Hive is a searing drama based on the true story of Fahrije (Yllka Gashi), who, like many of the other women in her patriarchal village, has lived with fading hope and burgeoning grief since her husband went missing during the war in Kosovo. In order to provide for her struggling family, she pulls together the other widows in her community to launch a business selling a local food product. Finding healing and solace in considering a future without their husbands—but their will to begin living independently is met with hostility.

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The men in the village condemn Fahrije’s efforts to empower herself and the women around her, starting a feud that threatens their newfound sovereignty—and the financial future of Fahrije’s family. Against the backdrop of Eastern Europe’s civil unrest and lingering misogyny, Fahrije and the women of her village join in a struggle to find hope in the face of an uncertain future. “Hive” is a pithy, devastating portrait of loss and our uphill journeys to freedom.”

Zeitgeist Films in association with Kino Lorber presents “Hive.” The film opens at New York’s Film Forum on November 5th and Los Angeles’ Laemmle’s Royal theater on November 12th. Watch the film’s first trailer below.