Unwanted – T’padashtun (2017)

Directed by: Edon Rizvanolli | 85 minutes | drama | Actors: Adriana Matoshi, Jason de Ridder, Niki Verkaar, Hugo Koolschijn, Celia Nufaar, Besnik Krapi, Bislim Muçaj, Shkumbin Istrefi, Edon Rizvanollie, Lilja Björk Hermannssdottir, Dennis Overeem, Xhejlane Terbunja, Kiefer Zwart, Roos Netmailjes, Blerta Alphonso, Flirst Bajgora, Loup Bisscheroux, Dukagjin Podrimaj, Annemarie Schäfer, Silvana Span, Laurens van Lottum

‘Unwanted’ is the Kosovar entry for the Oscar for best non-English language film and has a Dutch touch with director Edon Rizvanolli (born in Kosovo, but living and working in the Netherlands) and a partly Dutch cast. In addition, the film is largely
will also take place in Amsterdam, so that we can look forward with extra excitement to the announcement of the Oscar nominations.

‘Unwanted’ is about the relationship between the Kosovar single mother Zana (Adriana Matoshi), who fled to the Netherlands during the Balkan War, and her difficult adolescent son Alban (Jason de Ridder). Zana works in a flower shop and tries to learn Dutch. Alban feels completely Dutch – he has lived here all his life. He still goes to school, but gets into fights with others there so often that he is regularly expelled from school, sometimes even permanently. Zana has had enough and she looks for a job for him at a bicycle repair shop.

Initially, it takes the viewer effort to show sympathy for Alban. After casual sex in a toilet in a nightlife, he insults his ‘date’, he is also not too forthcoming with his mother and when he meets Ana through the bicycle repairman, you do not immediately have the feeling that the next date – for Ana – a good idea. But nothing turns out to be less true. Alban also appears to have a sweet, soft side and Ana brings out the best in him.

When Zana’s mother, who still lives in Kosovo, dies, the two go to visit relatives. They are certainly not welcomed with open arms, Zana is even sent away as she stands grieving next to her mother’s body. In Kosovo, Alban finally learns why his mother has lost contact with her family.

Back in the Netherlands, the relationship between Alban and Ana strengthens, but the resistance of both parents also increases proportionally. Ana’s father (played by the director himself) is of Serbian descent and old war wounds have not yet healed. Especially with Zana, she is so strongly against the relationship that she would rather move than lose her son to this girl.

‘Unwanted’ sensitively deals with the differences between the generation that experienced the war firsthand and the generation after that. The story highlights both points of view, but you involuntarily choose one side. Nicely done, but ‘Unwanted’ is also a bit long-winded, especially in the dreamy scenes with the young couple. A rock-solid turn in the story shakes the viewer awake and lifts the film to a higher level. So somewhat unbalanced, but intriguing and at times even impressive. Oscar nomination or not, remember the name Edon Rizvanolli!