Everybody Calls Redjo is a deeply moving and visually striking film that captures the harsh realities of life in an abandoned Albanian village in Macedonia. The film follows Redjo, the only able-bodied man left in a place where almost everyone has emigrated, leaving behind only the elderly and a few who refuse to give up.
Redjo is the village's lifeline, fixing houses, tending fields, and doing whatever it takes to survive. But while he struggles to hold onto his home, his wife and child desperately want to leave, seeking a better future elsewhere. The tension between love, duty, and survival builds throughout the film, culminating in a gripping and tragic twist-Redjo, under pressure, unknowingly becomes involved in smuggling illegal goods disguised as cheese.
The final scene is one of the most powerful in recent cinema: Redjo and his family finally decide to leave, driving away with their belongings stacked atop their car. The camera lingers on them as they pass the village cemetery, symbolizing both the end of an era and the weight of what they're leaving behind. It's a haunting and poetic moment that stays with you long after the credits roll.
The film's cinematography beautifully captures the desolation of the village, and the performances-especially from the lead actor portraying Redjo-are raw and authentic. Everybody Calls Redjo is a must-watch, a poignant reflection on sacrifice, the struggle for a better life, and the ghosts of the past that linger in forgotten places.
