The Forgiveness Of Blood review

An Albanian family is torn apart by murder.

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Following his 2004 Colombian drug-mule story Maria Full Of Grace , writer/director Joshua Marston (finally) returns with another realism-drenched tale set in a faraway foreign land.

This time, it’s Albania, Marston embroiling himself in the minutiae of the country’s ancient customs and ‘blood feuds’, when a bread seller kills his neighbour after an argument about crossing his land with a horse and cart.

Thoroughly researched, it smartly depicts the clash between old and new in a country aching for modernisation.

Even if it lacks a stand-out turn it’s still a grippingly authentic slice of life.

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Freelance writer

James Mottram is a freelance film journalist, author of books that dive deep into films like Die Hard and Tenet, and a regular guest on the Total Film podcast. You'll find his writings on GamesRadar+ and Total Film, and in newspapers and magazines from across the world like The Times, The Independent, The i, Metro, The National, Marie Claire, and MindFood.