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New York Times recommends the film "Water Drop": Albanian cinematography with great international success
2025-09-21 13:04:25 / EKONOMI&SOCIALE
The Prestigious American NYT Includes Robert Budina's Film in the List of 5 International Films to Watch
The New York Times has included director Robert Budina's film "Waterdrop" in its prestigious list of "Five International Movies to Stream Now," giving Albanian cinema a platform it has rarely had in prestigious American media.
In an article published on September 19, 2025 by critic Devika Girish, the New York Times recommends the Albanian film along with four other international films, placing Albania on the world cinema map in an unprecedented way.
The New York Times describes the film as a work that reveals the “dark atmosphere of corruption” by following the story of Aida (Gresa Pallaska) and her husband Ilir (Arben Bajraktaraj), who “live in a high-rise building above the city of Pogradec in Albania, with large glass windows offering a stunning view of Lake Ohrid.”
The New York Times critic praises director Robert Budina's work, saying that "he envelops the characters in a somber atmosphere of blue and gray and distorted perspectives, emphasizing the deep rot that lies beneath the surface of the lives of the rich and powerful."
The New York Times' success comes after a series of positive reviews from the film industry's most respected publications:
Variety – A Captivating Drama
Variety described the film as “a captivating Albanian drama” that explores “the system that creates the circumstances that allow” privileged characters “to get away with what they do with the indifference of the privileged.”
Cineuropa – A Powerful Accusation
Cineuropa called the film “a realistic indictment of collective involvement in violent patriarchal systems” and emphasized that “one point is all it takes to break the dam.”
Rotten Tomatoes – Perfect Performance
Rotten Tomatoes critics highlighted Gresa Pallaska's "powerful performance," calling her "a very ambitious woman who did what she had to do to succeed and thrive in the small Albanian town where she grew up."
The film is an international collaboration produced by Erafilm of Albania, Redibis Film of Italy, Avanpost of Romania, Iliria Film of Kosovo and Manufaktura Production of North Macedonia with producer Sabina Kodra.
As director Robert Budina himself said: “We wanted to have a kind of anatomy of our society, but also of the relationship you have with family, career, society and politics.” The film addresses universal themes but with a specifically Albanian perspective, exploring “the toxic system of misogynistic violence and power play” in the context of a post-communist society.
The New York Times recommends watching the film on the Film Movement Plus platform, making it accessible to American and international audiences. The New York Times recommendation for “Pikë Uji” represents one of the greatest achievements of Albanian cinematography in decades. Robert Budina’s film is opening new paths for Albanian artists and is showing that national cinematography can compete with the best world works.
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