Today marks the 99th anniversary of the birth of the Icon of Albanian cinematography, Violeta Manushi!

Violeta Manushi was born on March 6, 1926, in Voskopojë, Korça, and passed away on July 27, 2007, in Tirana, after a severe illness. She is one of the icons of the People’s Theater, one of the first actresses to excel equally in both comedy and drama, both on stage and in cinematography.

Throughout her career, she performed 100 roles in theater and 16 roles in films. Her final performance was in the tragicomedy “Streha e të harruarve” (“The Shelter of the Forgotten”), written by Ruzhdi Pulaha. A former worker in a typography shop, at just 20 years old, she enrolled in the first dramatic school opened at the National Theater in 1946, where she immediately stood out for her authenticity, spontaneity, and rare naturalness, as well as for her discipline and strong will. In the play “Orët e Kremlinit” (“The Hours of the Kremlin”) in 1957, she played three roles simultaneously, setting a unique record that still stands.

Later, she shone in leading roles in comedies such as “Gratë gazmore të Uindsorit” (“The Merry Wives of Windsor”) in 1959 and “Morali i zonjës Dulska” (“The Morality of Mrs. Dulska”) in 1958. From the national drama repertoire, she interpreted with great success the role of Olimbina in “Karnavalet e Korçës” (“The Carnivals of Korça”) in 1964, Zyhrana in “Fytyra e dytë” (“The Second Face”) in 1968, Nica in “Gjenerali i ushtrisë së vdekur” (“The General of the Dead Army”) in 1971,

Olga in “Zonja nga qyteti” (“The Lady from the City”) in 1975, and Teto in “Pallati 176” (“Palace 176”) in 1985, transforming completely into each of these characters. She also appeared in 16 films, from “Tana” in 1958 to “Rrethimi i vogël” (“The Small Siege”) in 1989, and in the teledrama “Gjenerali i ushtrisë së vdekur” (“The General of the Dead Army”) in 1977, where her talent as an elderly woman, Nica, stood out. For her role as Olga in “Zonja nga qyteti”, Violeta Manushi was awarded the medal at the 1977 film festival.

Some of the roles performed by Violeta Manushi, “Artist of the People”:

Theater:

• “Qypi me flori” (“The Pot of Gold”)

• “Epopeja e Ballit Kombëtar” (“The Epic of the National Front”)

• “Dom Gjoni” (“Father John”)

• “Pas vdekjes” (“After Death”)

• “Halili dhe Hajria” (“Halili and Hajria”)

• “Tartufi” (“Tartuffe”)

• “Mikroborgjezët” (“The Microbourgeois”)

• “Rrënjët e thella” (“The Deep Roots”)

• “Orët e Kremlinit” (“The Hours of the Kremlin”)

• “Gjenerali i ushtrisë së vdekur” (“The General of the Dead Army”)

• “Morali i zonjës Dulska” (“The Morality of Mrs. Dulska”)

• “Arturo Ui”

• “Lumi i vdekur” (“The Dead River”)

• “Karnavalet e Korçës” (“The Carnivals of Korça”)

• “Zonja nga qyteti” (“The Lady from the City”)

• “14 vjeç dhëndër” (“14-Year-Old Groom”)

• “Epoka para gjyqit” (“The Era Before the Trial”)

• “Borgjezi fisnik” (“The Noble Bourgeois”)

• “Fytyra e dytë” (“The Second Face”)

• “Pallati 176” (“Palace 176”)

• “Valsi i titanikut” (“The Titanic Waltz”)

• “Kati i gjashtë” (“The Sixth Floor”), and many more.

Films:

• 1958: “Tana” – Ngjela

• 1961: “Debatik” – (The merchant’s wife)

• 1965: “Vitet e para” (“The Early Years”) – (Lonevica)

• 1969: “Përse bie kjo daulle” (“Why Does This Drum Beat”) – (The innkeeper)

• 1969: “Plagë të vjetra” (“Old Wounds”) – (Veres’ mother)

• 1970: “Gjurma” (“The Footprint”) – (Artan’s mother-in-law)

• 1973: “Mimoza llastica” (“Mimoza the spoiled”) – (Grandmother)

• 1975: “Gjenerali i ushtrisë së vdekur” (“The General of the Dead Army”) – (Old woman Nica)

• 1976: “Zonja nga qyteti” (“The Lady from the City”) – (Aunt Olga)

• 1977: “Zëmra që nuk plaken” (“The Heart That Doesn’t Age”) – (Azem’s wife)

• 1979: “Përtej mureve të gurta” (“Beyond the Stone Walls”) – (Asimese’s grandmother)

• 1980: “Një shoqe nga fshati” (“A Friend from the Village”) – (Aunt Olga)

• 1982: “Një vonesë e vogël” (“A Small Delay”) – (Mother)

• 1984: “Taulanti kërkon një motër” (“Taulant Looks for a Sister”) – (Aunt)

• 1986: “Rrethimi i vogël” (“The Small Siege”) – (Frosa)

• 1987: “Eja” (“Come”) – (Ruzhdia)

• 1987: “Telefoni i një mëngjesi” (“The Phone of One Morning”) – (Innkeeper)

• 2005: “Trishtimi i zonjës Shnajder” (“The Sadness of Mrs. Schneider”) – (Innkeeper)

• CREATED by:

• “KORÇA BOOM”