The sophomore feature from Joshua Marston (MARIA, FULL OF GRACE), THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD presents a mordern Albanian society which is both instantly recognisable and frighteningly distant.

Nik is an ordinary Albanian teenager. More interested in Facebook than his family's bread-delivery business, he has two dreams: to open an internet cafe and to win the heart of his classmate, Klodi. But his simple aspirations are rendered impossible after a long-standing feud between Nik's father and a neighbour results in the neighbour's murder. Nik's father flees, and the family's life is thrown into turmoil due to an ancient Albanian “eye for an eye” law, which more or less forces the family to remain inside their house for their own safety. The only one free to leave is Nik's enterprising younger sister, Rudina, who continues to run the family business and provides precious contact with the outside world.

Quietly affecting and absorbing, THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD carefully avoids judgement, presenting an inhumane cultural practice with grace and patience.