On October 14, 2014 the two Eastern European countries of Albania and Serbia faced off on the soccer field in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. This film reflects the path of the Albanian National Football Team to the European Championship.
The documentary film Triumph reflects the path of the Albanian National Football Team to the European Championship. On October 14, 2014 the two Eastern European countries of Albania and Serbia faced off on the soccer field in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. With Albanian fans not permitted to attend the game due to purported safety concerns, the stadium full of Serbian fans echoed racist chants and death threats. Tensions rose to a boil when a drone carrying an Albanian flag flew above the players and onto the pitch. Angered fans rushed the field, attacking the Albanian players, forcing the match to end. A history of political tensions, war and genocide is explored as we follow the journey of the Albanian National Team to their first EURO cup appearance. Sports has always been synonymous with peace and hope in all countries, particularly peace seeking states that wish to escape wars and bloodshed. In the film, Albanians look at the football match as a means to bring excitement back to the youths and country after long, bitter years of political unrest.
In 2016 FIFA World Cup qualification in France, Albania national team has to compete with Serbia national team twice. The background of Balkan War and Serbians’ aggressive behavior towards Kosovo Albanians has made these competitions important and unpredictable. The film follows both adventures of these two competitions and the uneven route of Albania entering FIFA World Cup. Albania team is made of young Kosovan soccer players migrated to the West during Balkan War. Although some of them even don’t know their national language, they immediately get used to this team’s nationalistic atmosphere. The film’s three directors themselves concern with Albania’s nationalistic atmosphere and sensations and this is why they lack the vigilance of adventurous documentary makers. The recurrent and unreasonable music of the film and its media-friendliness as well as filmmakers’ imitative mentality don’t let the film go beyond a disposable narration. However, different real incidents nourish film with adventures the most significant of which is this: flying a UAV decorated with Albania’s flag and the picture of two national characters by an Albanian patriot named Balist in Serbia’s soccer field in which there is not a single Albanian.
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