MAN OF THE HOUSE

In order to be a mother to her young niece, Fran must choose between her status of 'manhood' or to give it up and reconnect with the maternal feelings she has long suppressed.

  • Andamion Murataj
    Director
  • Andamion Murataj
    Writer
    The Forgiveness of Blood
  • Andamion Murataj
    Producer
  • Lissus Murataj
    Producer
  • Carlo Degli Esposti
    Producer
  • Nicola Serra
    Producer
  • Elly Senger-Weiss
    Producer
  • Bojan Kanjera
    Producer
  • Ismet Sijarina
    Producer
  • Sasho Pavlovski
    Producer
  • Drita Kaba Karaga
    Key Cast
    "Fran"
  • Alesia Ruçi
    Key Cast
    "Zana"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Burri i Shtëpisë
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 44 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 30, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    886,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Albania
  • Country of Filming:
    Albania
  • Language:
    Albanian
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Andamion Murataj

Andamion Murataj is a writer and director with a background in visual arts. In 2009, founded Lissus Media, an Albanian production company. Andamion co-wrote and co-produced the feature film “The Forgiveness of Blood,” for which he received The Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the Berlinale.
He is a founder and the director of Balkan Film Market and Albascript Workshops.
Andamio holds an MFA In Film and Electronic Media from American University in Washington D.C.

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Director Statement

Growing up in Albania, I got to know several sworn virgins, who although born female, they take a solemn oath to live their lives as if they were men, strictly suppressing what they believe are the feminine aspects of their personalities. I have long wanted to tell the story of these unique individuals, who live their lives according to an ancient custom while struggling to survive in the modern world.
My aim is to set in motion a film that tells the authentic story of a sworn virgin who has to confront her gender identity and undergo tremendous shifts in a rapidly changing world. With no easy way out, torn between the manhood she’s sworn to uphold and the suppressed woman within in order to become the mother her niece aches for.
Telling such a distinct gender story I aimed to avoid all exotic clichés often tied to past cultural narratives about Albanian Sworn Virgins, and instead, I relied on key contributions from women creatives including an Austrian cinematographer, a French composer, an Italian sound designer, as well as Croatian hair and makeup and Albanian costume design teams. I'm also happy that our film marks a milestone as Albania's first certified Green Production