Mark Topallaj
Actor, director.
Born on August 18, 1937 in Rrëshen, in the district of Mirdita. Topallaj completed his higher studies at the High Institute of Arts (ILA), drama branch, in 1965. Two years later, in 1967, began working as an assistant director at the Kinostudio “Shqiperia e Re”.
His first documentary was “Son of Mirdita / Biri i Mirdites” in 1969, which was followed in more than 20 years by 25 other documentary films of this type. The themes of his films include social, political and historical ones, as well as those dedicated to the cultural and artistic traditions of the people.
Likewise, there are documentaries that examine the technical and scientific development of the country and those about important events, about personalities, about different ages and diverse issues, among which we can mention: “The art of wood carving / Arti i gdhendjes ne dru”; “Using nuclear radiation / Duke perdorur rrezatimet berthamore”; “Loro Borici”; “Children and dolls / Femijet dhe kukullat”; “Report from Mirdita”; “New song / Kenga e re””; “Starting with myself / Duke filluar nga vetja”; “Story for free time / Tregim per kohe te lire”; “For these lands / Per keto troje” etc.
In addition to documentary films, Mark Topallaj has also made other artistic films such as: “Toast of my wedding / Dollia e dasmes sime” (1978); his first film in this genre is more appreciated by critics and spectators for the simplicity and truth of the event, maintaining an inner drama, without fuss and pathetic efforts.
On her wedding day, the bride waits for the groom who has to leave temporarily on a mission as a courier for the liberation army.
His other films touch on investigative topics such as “The Threat / Kercenimi”; “The investigation continues / Hetimi vazhdon”; “Who is the murderer / Kush eshte vrasesi”; or dramatic social reliefs from the life of the highlanders and their ethno-cultural codes that operate in clear national historical phrases such as “Postponed wedding / Dasma e shtyre” or “Stone of faith / Guri i beses”.
In 1992 Topallaj emigrated to Italy. In Italy in 1999, he shoots the documentary film “Il mediterraneo come crocevia di cultura” with which he participated in the Merano TV Festival.
Filmography as an assistant and as a director
1978: My Wedding Toast (Dollia e dasmes sime)
1979: The Small Unit (Ceta e vogel)
1981: The Threat (Kercenimi)
1982: The Postponed Wedding (Dasma e shtyre)
1984: The Stone of faith (Guri i beses)
1988: The Investigation Continues (Hetimi vazhdon)
1989: Who’s the Killer? (Kush eshte vrasesi)
Documentary Films
1969: Mirdita’s Son (I biri i Mirdites)
1971: The New Song (Kenga e re)
1973: Using Nuclear Radiation (Duke perdorur rrezatimin berthamor)
1974: Partisan Mother (Nena partizane)
1974: Tourist Albania (Shqiperia turistike)
1975: The Brigadier (Brigadierja)
1976: Leisure Story (Tregim per kohe te lire)
1980: Our Traditions in Sailing (Traditat tona ne lundrim)
1982: For These Lands (Per keto troje)
1984: Story for the wise game (Tregim per lojen e urte)
1986: Mirdita rejoices (Gezon Mirdita)
As an actor
1966: The Commissar of Light (Komisari i drites)….
1969: The Old Wounds (Plage te vjetra)…as Frroku
1970: The Riflemen’s Valley (Lugina e pushkatareve)….
1979: The small unit (Ceta e vogel)
1988: The Investigation Continues (Hetimi vazhdon)
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Albanian Cinematography in activity since 2013
Reference: Encyclopedia of Albanian Theater and Cinematography – Toena 2009 / J. Papagjoni f . 522/
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