Time of the Comet was selected as the best Albanian film in the International Film Festival in Durrës, Albania. Prishtina showing is the second one for the critically-acclaimed film. A two million euro production, the film is the most expensive that Albania has realized in recent times.

 

Time of the Comet is based on the novel Viti i Mbrapshtë (Black Year) written by the Albanian writer Ismail Kadare, winner of the inaugural Booker International Prize. 

 

Filming was done in Albania and Macedonia with actors from Albania, Kosovo and Germany. Masiela Lushi plays the role of Agnesa, a Catholic sister of honor who falls in love with Muslim rebel Shestan (Blerim Destani). Koha e Kometës presents the political and cultural conflicts experienced by the two young people who have the bravery to face cultural differences during an uprising against the king.

 

Director Fatmir Koçi has been criticized for not doing a proper adaption of the screnplay and Masiela Lusha for not speaking fluently Albanian. Çun Lajçi on the other hand has been praised for the play.

 

Main actor and producer of the movie Blerim Destani has announced submissions to several international fesntivals, including some majors ones, without naming them.

 

The film is an Albanian-German coproduction. Director of photography is Donald Gilligan, who has previously worked on Saving Private Ryan. On the main roles play Blerim Destani, Luan Jaha, Blerim Gjoci, Çun Lajçi and the Gladiator actor Ralph Muller. The movie is a production of Lara-Entertainment from Germany and the National Albanian Cinematographic Center from Tirana.