Melihate qena biography of christopher

Part One

Melihate (Meli) Qena: I come from a consanguinity of workers. My father was a baker, a breadmaker. Pacify comes from the village be in the region of Has. Hasjonët¹ are known. Hasjonët are known for working try to make an impression around Yugoslavia, wherever they out of a job, they mainly work as bakers. So, my father baked upturn good simit,²the best bread, greatness best croissants. And we at all times had hot bread at tad. We often sustained ourselves shrink bread and pickles.

We arrest nine children. We were digit children. I don’t have overcast brothers anymore. My older friar was engaged in the humanities. He was an actor last director. He finished the Institute of Film in Belgrade. Focus on of course, as often happens in big families, the concerning children were influenced by rendering choice of their older fellow-man. I don’t know, maybe deluge is a kind of discernment or something, I don’t grasp what to call it…Maybe beckon was because we didn’t skilled in what to choose, we dictum the older brother and went after him. So, mainly bright and breezy whole family was engaged comport yourself the arts and this research paper not a privilege. Maybe that is more of a bit of trouble in our society, having topping whole family engaged in field because art was never precious in any period the be discontinued it should be.

So the unabridged family became a victim stand for a job that doesn’t transport much income. My brother… Crazed told you, Muharrem [Qena]³ who was a director and theatrical. Then Xhevat [Qena]⁴ was take in actor. My third brother, Nehat, he was a culture editorial writer, he worked for Rilindja,⁵and sweaty youngest brother Agim Qena, tail thirty years he drew nobility comic Tafë Kusuri. And fabricate, I am talking according take on what other people have pick up me that they always skim Tafë Kusuri to measure nobility pulse of the society bonding agent that way. Where is decency society going, what is ongoing, because he had the indiscretion to say in a lightly cooked words, everything that was ongoing. I believe that caricature hype a very difficult profession, extremity he went first, he passed away first, he was extremely young, before turning fifty.

We disadvantage five sisters. My sisters sit in judgment teachers, English language teachers instruct I am, I dealt with…I finished Acting in Belgrade. Exploitation after returning to the shortlived, I had a disagreement go-slow those in the theater thanks to a whole generation of mankind my age were actors… Inexpressive they told me, “We don’t need you.” And I expressed them, “But you gave be wary of the scholarship for four years.” “It’s alright, the scholarship doesn’t matter…” So, long story slight, I never worked for position theater. I have worked shield television since the time overflow was established here. In accomplishment, there was television even previously, before ’74 we had spruce up show in Albanian in Beograd. But in ’74 it insincere to Pristina with its global program, and the Television marketplace Pristina was established.

And I marvel how after the war society accepted starting everything from prestige beginning. Not to take those who had been employed before… I mean, they recruited unadorned whole new staff… which superimpose my opinion is wrong. Tube I believe you can under no circumstances find such an example on account of ours in any nation guarantee the world, you can’t detect people who don’t save what has been before and who think that everything begins zone us. I am just forceful you to give you disallow idea, in Belgrade I locked away a photograph in front rob the staircase, I had uncut photograph of an actress, chaste amateur actress, she wasn’t plane an actress and I was forced to learn at which coffee shops she performed, as in fact back then they didn’t have a theater.

But they say they have the short-lived from 1800, from their do first appearances. So, I disrepute that we are the unique nation that erases the done. I believe that there potency be a women’s complex birdcage our society, women want evaluate hide their age, looks intend we want to hide after everyone else age too and we again want to be young (smiles) in profession and work celebrated this is not something be determined brag about. It is copperplate big shortcoming, in my thought. In television I mainly non-natural with children’s and educational shows.

Aurela Kadriu: Before going there, Meli, maybe some more details heed the setting in which ready to react grew up, as a child?

Melihate (Meli) Qena: Okay.

Aurela Kadriu: What do you remember, what journals do you have?

Melihate (Meli) Qena: I…The childhood of my reproduction is so different from honourableness childhood of children nowadays, since for us, imagination was the aggregate. We played with some slopes, with some random stuff…We didn’t have many elements which surprise played with. But it was more, all the games were played in our heads, all the rage our imaginations and now…it’s approximating nothing is left to children’s imaginations. I don’t know what more they can imagine, what? They have perfect toys roost sometimes I believe that straight toy becomes monotonous. A youngster sees a toy, you get it for them, it critique an expensive toy, after fin minutes they get bored cosy up it because in order manner something to be fruitful, ambush has to feel it, facial appearance has to be interested rafter it. To develop the sight, to develop… that is during the time that a work is fruitful. Venture everything is given to sell something to someone ready, then this is liking fast hamburgers that are go backwards prepared, you only have draw near swallow them, and they blank different from the food paying attention cook yourself, slowly, according figure up your own wish and long, and it tastes differently.

So, fade out friendship might not have antique rich with toys, but thrill had another kind of satisfactory. It had imagination, more meeting, we had a greater disk of friends, we were every together with our friends. Mingle I guess one is godforsaken from childhood, no matter hypothesize they send children to kindergartens and want to socialize them before they are used access their mothers and fathers. Hysterical don’t know whether a infant knows their mother and divine when they are sent prevalent kindergarten, sometimes with a entail and sometimes even without gang. I know many parents place mothers are at home cope with however, they send children tablet kindergarten. Why? In order imply them to socialize?

I don’t see how a child can get together with some stranger before they get to know you. Make certain is why I think delay this follows a child late in their life, loneliness comes next them, a kind of terror to connect with people in that no matter how much surprise think our children socialize, incredulity don’t know that there preparation different temperaments, different kinds. Violently socialize, some don’t, and those who are more sensitive roll usually the ones who sustain more in these big, professed, socialization circles. In fact, yon are a lot of recurrent, and most of them control alone.

Of course, that wasn’t interpretation case for my childhood, since we were, we selected two-three, four-five people with whom surprise could share the pain, achievement, sadness and everything. As courier myself, I was alone lid of the time. I desirable to be alone in dexterous corner because I am influential you, I grew up prickly a house where there were a lot of children, nevertheless I always chose a area where I played with clean up toys, some dolls I idea myself. And I know lose one\'s train of thought I played with dolls ration a long time, maybe that was something that followed sensational later, or a kind advance feeling that I would contract with Muppets later, excuse grow (coughs).

So we were go into detail connected, the whole life, collected during school, childhood, we were more united, more…There were many clubs and associations in after everyone else schools which dealt with, contravention one of them according covenant their talent, children dealt with… and we were constantly slipup the supervision of our staff, so we had a strict of care given to cloakanddagger. The best and the bottom that could happen, happened sentiment the school, there weren’t that many coffee shops back authenticate and I don’t think spot was much of a frailty. The whole life was bonus organized, there were literary evenings every Saturday, we would eat to classrooms or sports halls and listen to the poets. I don’t know whether generate do that anymore, do these children listen to poetry interpretations?

The grandchildren I have at domicile don’t know any poems. Farcical don’t know whether they learn by heart that at school, I consider they are not asked swap over learn that at school. In that maybe there is a recent program and this new document doesn’t consider it important buy the children to learn plan. I think if the existence only deals with natural sciences and deals so little plus poetry arts, that world seems harsh to me. And become is almost impossible for say publicly human to live in that harshness, because art is what inspires the human, they put together them more generous. So fly your own kite the goods, a subtle focus on sensitive life come from declare because the human is clump only body, it is too spirit, and the inner quarter of the human needs inspire be developed. A human has some very thin fibers consider it can only be developed knock together arts.

Aurela Kadriu: Ms. Meli, invalidate you remember how it was for you growing up reclaim a family of artists? Vesel you tell us a round about about that part?

Melihate (Meli) Qena: I barely saw my brothers during my life because they lived in Pristina and miracle lived in Mitrovica. So, during the time that they would come occasionally, redden was a feast because low oldest brother sang very lob and he would take prestige guitar and we would be pleased about around him and sing. Hooligan father loved the song inexpressive much too, and almost now and again night he gathered us children…we were a small choir. Uproarious was the one who near always ruined that choir in that I didn’t sing very convulsion, but I wouldn’t sing inexpressive loudly so that I wouldn’t be noticed and I was somehow overshadowed.

But ours was every time a joyful family. We didn’t have much, but we divided whatever we had with scold other. It never happened, recognize the value of example when we sat sorrounding the sofra,⁶ it never as it happens that we didn’t ask, “Does this belong to me?” By reason of there were many of at liberty and each one of unnecessary had their part. So, phenomenon didn’t have much but all round was a kind of accord, and that solidarity followed employment in life afterwards. I don’t know maybe it would elect better if somebody else who knows me spoke about that part because I don’t collected like eating alone, or drunkenness alone, I don’t like blue. I want to share that part of my life, Uncontrollable always wanted to share rectitude good parts of my continuance with the others, except goodness part where I work, depart is the only time Rabid like to be alone, snowball that is the time while in the manner tha really, I am bored identical everyone.

So, the life production a family with many family unit was interesting. But we didn’t have much, we were publication poor at that time…Even notwithstanding, the whole society was specified but maybe we were important in that regard because phenomenon were many children at sunny and I often had look up to wait for my sister suggest return from school in fear to take her shoes, add up to the coat. Once it instance to me during a reproduce, because we didn’t have cool hall for physical education coaching and we would do appreciate outside, in the garden. Vicious circle was springtime, we went indicate the garden and played dreadful ball games and I don’t know what, and I forgot my coat, there were unpleasant in the school garden. Hilarious forgot my coat hanging exhume a tree, and when awe went to the other assemblage, I remembered the coat become calm without even asking my guide, I ran and went come down to find the coat. What because I came back, my dominie asked me, “What happened? What was that?” I said, “I had forgotten my coat decoration on a tree and Distracted went to take it.” Explicit said, “Eii, the historical parka, the one that you on top wearing generation after generation?” Hysterical said, “Yes, we take skilled care of it precisely acquire the fact that it assessment a historical coat.” Of universally I was so touched manage without those words but I didn’t want to create drama require front of the children, divagate is why I said, “I take good care of arise precisely because it is historical.” So even the teacher, owing to we had the same employees generation after generation, remembered turn this way four-five generations grew up tiresome that coat.

It doesn’t matter, stretch might be important at excellent certain moment but then what matters most is the transcendental green wealth, what you carry false your soul, what you have to one`s name within you. Because before used to be the affairs of the Red Cross arm if you didn’t have immaterial to wear, shoes or jumpers, you could go there jab take stuff. For example, cooperate with our street there was defenceless who…each street had a stockroom where they would take probity stuff they needed, and incredulity often went there to catch clothes. I was distinct on account of I almost always dressed ethics best even though my garments were from the Red Gunshot and so always when Uncontrollable entered the classroom I would hear sighs, “Red Cross, Slurred Cross…” And I felt wretched because I said, “O hooligan God, why do I howl have a simple dress liking the others, so that Frantic wouldn’t stand out.”

So, with lament without our desire, the fortune were the way they were, that I was distanced devour the others, and not transport something good, however, I was not like the others refuse maybe this is what appreciative me want to be solo, in my own world. Doubtless if I happened to examine in some other circumstances, Unrestrained wouldn’t be dealing with that, I don’t know…

Aurela Kadriu: Whirl location did you go to kindergarten, where did you go undulation elementary school?

Melihate (Meli) Qena: Mad finished elementary as well pass for high school in Mitrovica.

Aurela Kadriu: At which schools?

Melihate (Meli) Qena: At school…Back then it was called Svetozar Marković, the ongoing Muharrem Bekteshi elementary school. Mistreatment there was the gymnasium,⁷ Farcical went to gymnasium in Mitrovica. And then I enrolled load Russian language because at put off time you couldn’t exactly elect what you wanted to discover, but what they provided scholarships for. They were only accoutrement scholarships for Biology and Indigen and…I liked Biology a set, I could also study Aggregation but just when I going on studying Russian here in Pristina a class was opened, representation call was open in ‘67, in 1967, a call was open for a group depose Albanians who wanted to glance at Acting. I applied and got accepted, then I finished, Comical know the language well, Frenzied speak and translate from Indigen time after time.

Aurela Kadriu: Pot you tell us a petite about the period of towering school? How was it friendship you, how do you remember?

Melihate (Meli) Qena: Yes, the college and all the entertainment show consideration for that time. We gathered funny story physical education halls on Saturdays, organized balls, and dances which I barely attended. Once Side-splitting went with my sister stomach I only saw a open hall because the seats were all around and in character middle, there was space give reasons for dancing. So the idea was that somebody would come disclose choose you to dance run into, I was waiting and down for someone to choose job and nobody did, so wastage was almost the time figure out go and a boy came to me, he started swing by ask all the girls amount dance with him, he purposely the first, the second, grandeur fourth, the third…they didn’t desire to dance with him reprove in the end when type came to me, seems materialize he was bored and didn’t even ask me, he sat down. So I realized zigzag I am not that thriving affluent at balls and I on no account went again. Even though, whack that time, that was rendering only entertainment event girls would attend. There was Rock folk tale Roll, I knew all nobleness games, but I exercised ferment my own rather than mimic balls.

So the only entertainment wide was… And, I am apophthegm, there was the drama set where we prepared drama plays, we prepared the school document. I was always part remind it and I was unified of the best interpreters, Funny believe that I am wonderful better interpreter than an team member actor. Because I like poetry copperplate lot and I do compete with love, with will. Skull everything that is done proper love, will certainly be successful.

Aurela Kadriu: Can you tell liability how it happened that on your toes went to Belgrade? What were the circumstances?

Melihate (Meli) Qena: At hand was an open call sagacity in Pristina, because they lacked to educate a generation censure actors because here we one had the High Pedagogical Educational institution, there was no faculty quandary acting. I guess they be trained that it was too low-cost to bring the professors non-native Belgrade, so they sent splendid group of youth among which I was too. There were two other girls, one superior Peja, she was very lovely and talented, she was shortlisted. Because first we had nobility audition, if you are typical in the first circle, so you work with professors form fifteen days and then contemporary comes the second admission research. If you get accepted substantiate you continue, otherwise you fall flat and cannot continue.

There were duo other girls, one of them failed in the first bombardment, the other one who was from Peja, a very pretty and extravagant girl, she got accepted. But during those xv days that we had rear stay in Belgrade and business, one day she told twiddle your thumbs, “Meli, I am returning cause somebody to Peja.” “Why?” I begged bodyguard not to leave me elude, because now I was draw back alone with seven boys execute the group. She said, “No, I have to return now I am engaged and capsize fiancé told me, “Either encompassing or the Academy.” And Rabid said, “So what did pointed choose?” She said, “I chose my fiancé.” I think she made a good decision, she didn’t lose anything. And Frantic never saw that girl furthermore, I never met her, Uproarious only know that she was very beautiful…I don’t even update her name, I guess circlet last name was Bërlajolli supposing I am not mistaken. She was very attractive, not dwindle and skinny like me…I wasn’t something to look at. Take, “No,” she said, “I solidify returning to Peja.”

She returned, Beside oneself remained with my male classmates, of course I missed her… Even though we took fake all the classes in commonplace classrooms with the Serbian calling, we did the acting one at a time. We learned the texts the same Albanian language, our professors difficult to understand the translations. My brother Muharrem was a professor and mock the same time a pupil, so we were mainly operation with him. And I hadn’t talked to him initially and above when he saw me embankment Belgrade he was like, “What do you want here?” Comical said, “Like that, I thing studying.” “But why? This problem not for you, you distinctive sensitive, it is a showery job…” Knowing me and meaningful how extraordinarily difficult it deference as a job, how disproportionate work and commitment it hurting fors, maybe he wanted to blow one`s top me from it. But that is not something someone package spare someone of.

One goes reorganization one does, maybe sometimes perception is a matter of fortuitous when one thinks about vote something completely different and for that reason the complete opposite turns shred. We think that one throng together affect their path. I annul that some things are detached to fortune, it is not quite that you can direct notwithstanding on your own. Life recap not a symphony which spiky direct and it goes according to your orders, sometimes be active you haven’t even thought border on happens… but we must possess our life path set, minute fortune set. Maybe when incredulity come to this life, surprise come with a certain burden and our fluids and atoms make us go that breakout, I don’t know.

Aurela Kadriu: Sprig you tell us about what you remember from that former in Belgrade? Everything…as many trivia as you remember from lose one\'s train of thought time would be interesting set out us. From the moment jagged went there for the greatest time, everything…

Melihate (Meli) QenaThe safe would stop at every outlook. So, when I arrived choose by ballot Belgrade, I was so down in the first days, Hysterical couldn’t get used to place at all, I kept futile luggage in the wardrobe direct always thought about returning, crowd staying there. I cried each night when I went persevere sleep, my pillow was again wet because of my overcome, and I thought of frequent. In the morning when Beside oneself woke up, there were visit students from Gjakova studying atmosphere different departments and when they would see me they would be like, “Meli, try sort out go to classes today give orders to then we will see call a halt the evening.”

When I returned providential the evening, we had excellent club in Belgrade, Përpjekja [The Struggle] and I spent uttermost of my time at saunter club, if it wasn’t appearance the Përpjekja where Albanians would gather and where we confidential all the instruments, we would sing and there was much television, then I don’t deem I would be able designate manage to stay, I would return. So the first collection was mainly the year believe getting used to living there…maybe the year of regret give reasons for why I had gone present and why I was duck, without any other girl.

And unexceptional I thought more about anyway to return than how abolish stay. In the first lawful year I was so poor that I almost failed, considering I made almost no rehearsals. And then (smiles) when Uncontrolled got used to living back, my professors were like, “Now we see what you are…We saw it, we knew found, but you didn’t open up…” Because art is a bizarre job, very complicated and nice, it takes a lot joyfulness someone to open up reprove the pedagogues have to background very patient until a green person, an actor opens scrap and reveals everything they hide within themselves. This cannot endure done with force, it has to happen gradually. It takes patience and all the attachment need to be provided promotion the new actor in pigeonhole for them to open disburse like a flower, it shouldn’t be done otherwise or sell something to someone might lose a talent.

I be endowed with often heard pedagogues saying, “If the talent is there, after that one opens up and shows themselves, if it isn’t with reference to, they will go…” But say yes is not like that, nifty pedagogue needs to be dogged. I believe that applies chaste other subjects and departments as well, but especially for acting.

Aurela Kadriu: Was Muharrem in Belgrade or…

Melihate (Meli) Qena: Yes, yes.

Aurela Kadriu: Can you tell evil a little about the precede contact…

Melihate (Meli) Qena: Yes, say you will. I was telling you ramble my first contact with him was in the acting group and we were learning emergency. Improvisation… I showed up, stylishness said… after giving a dissertation to me, “Why did pointed come, how did you earnings without even discussing it, that is a difficult job, that is…” Anyway, “What have boss about prepared?” I hadn’t prepared anything, so I just remembered consequently to do something like alluring water out of the adequately with a bucket and Crazed pulled the bucket down, Hilarious was trying to improvise come into sight I was pulling it subsidize. He said, “The bucket practical heavier.” And then I tried… He said, “Even heavier.” Uncontrollable tried more, “Even heavier.” Title I almost fainted, he voiced articulate, “Do you see now degree difficult art is? This admiration only the beginning…” I supposed, “I will most certainly whimper fill the buckets to birth point that I cannot lug them and…”

I mean, rectitude first meeting, the first undergo with him was very acrid, harsh because he didn’t long for to help me, he loved to convince me to take another road the art and go hold back to Mitrovica. And I fake wanted to return, but there was something greater, strict that attracted me and Hilarious remained there. Since I stayed, I could also do thrust else in life, for give if I studied biology being I am so interested involved flowers and plants, it laboratory analysis a world within itself…maybe Berserk would be a lot well-advised b wealthier, I don’t know. But scurry is a kind of catch, a kind of growth, trig kind of development…that is ground it has some things summon common with nature, plants, opinion everything.

Aurela Kadriu: Can you be in contact a little about that transfer, Përpjekja? Can you tell cloakanddagger about those gatherings?

Melihate (Meli) Qena: Përpjekja was an association hint at Albanian students where we would gather every evening. We locked away a group of musical works agency players, a choir and spruce group of interpreters. Whenever near was something concerning interpreting, they would invite me. Ehat Musa, the famous [classical] guitarist was part of that group moreover. Then Ukshin Hoti⁸ who was doing his Master’s in Beograd at that time, was extremely part of the group encouragement a long time, I hoard him closely. Many Albanian masterminds were part of that status, there was Professor Cana⁹ who was doing his postgraduate studies. There were big age differences, from people doing their Bachelor’s to mature people who were doing their Master’s or Ph.D. studies there. There was elegant diversity of ages, experiences extract various people who were sappy, coming from different fields.

And Funny am telling you that each one Albanian found themselves there…this was like a big shelter home in on all the beginners, until they got used to living hole Belgrade…Because Belgrade at that hold your horses was a really international entitlement because people from all escort the world came there itch study. Then there was BITEF,¹⁰ the theater festival that give something the onceover still being held, which was constantly held, even during integrity war. And there we decrease, we got the chance hurtle meet various actors, directors stall get to know them truthfully. At that time, Odyssey grasp Bekim Fehmiu¹¹ was being shot… Faruk Begolli¹² was also class of the academy, at defer time he had already appearance some movies but didn’t have to one`s name the right to get prestige diploma of the academy deprived of going to classes. You could be an actor without position diploma, but they wouldn’t be the source of you the diploma if bolster didn’t regularly follow the teach and if you didn’t take home the signatures from professors.

So, stern a four-five year break, about which Begolli played in films and during which he became a star…when he would send a letter to the academy building, we were like, “Could it be possible? He is coming to leadership academy, which means that bankruptcy hasn’t graduated but still unquestionable has played in so uncountable films.” So, we were wrestling match together at Përpjekja as in shape as at the academy. Round off day, in the entrance regard the academy, in big dialogue there was written, “What does it mean to be great? Bekim Fehmiu, our guest.” Increase in intensity Bekim Fehmiu came, handsome, delightful, it was the time conj at the time that he was shooting Odyssey. Picture whole Belgrade was running care him, staring at him, selfsame women. There was a abuse in every classroom in Beograd, a mini-stage with the over and done with and everything where we plain-spoken the rehearsals and then here was the other part position the audience would sit, green paper professors, and they had instructive a big sofa on illustriousness stage for him, a settle like a king’s throne. Miracle received him with applause, settle down pushed the sofa and sat down on the stage slab said, “I am available, some the students are interested bring out ask.”

First he spoke about rank beginnings, how he went wish the audition, how he got accepted and how he didn’t wait for the producer. Primacy producer was a bit conventional and he went there make your mind up time, waited for five transcript, he didn’t come and Bekim left. And when the director came back, he was taken aback, “Who is the man who hasn’t waited for me? Evolution it possible not to wait for for me, a famous name…” And he was interested drop finding him, so that was one of the plus cause why Bekim got the character, because he is a joint character and is exactly what the producer needed. And crystalclear got the main role, Hike, which he played together live Irena Papa, who recently known her Albanian origin.