The Albanian Public Broadcaster (RTSH) has produced the documentary “Four Soul Measures,” authored by Albana Kozeli, edited by Gjergji Pano, featuring Shkëlzen Sinani as the Director of Photography and Holta Sina as the Artistic Consultant.

The documentary honoring composer Laro, an icon of Albanian film music, premiered last night, drawing a large audience of friends, collaborators, and numerous artists.

The documentary’s creator, Albana Kozeli, noted, “Kujtim Laro is closely connected to RTSH, having worked there, but he is also a key figure in the broader musical world of film. The support from RTSH, particularly from the director, Mrs. Eni Vasili, to whom I offer my sincere gratitude, was crucial. I also want to thank the entire team who stood by me, including the director of photography Shkëlzen Sinani, editor Gjergji Pano, and many others.”

The renowned composer Robert Radoja expressed, “His film music is among the most beautiful, leaving a lasting legacy that will live on forever.”

For director Mevlan Shanaj, “The time has not yet come to speak the truth about Kujtim Laro within the realm of the extraordinary.”

Kujtim Laro (1947-2004) was born in May 1947 in the city of Vlora. He completed his higher education in 1970 at the High Institute of Arts, and later served as a professor for many years at the Academy of Arts. He also worked as the artistic director at the Army Ensemble. Laro held the titles of “Merited Artist” and “Naim Frashëri” of the first class.

In the memory of the Albanian people, he is most remembered as a film composer. His signature can be found in the soundtracks of well-known films such as “The Eighth in Bronze,” “At the Beginning of Summer,” “Poppies on the Walls,” “The Path of Letters,” “Freedom or Death,” “The Second November,” “The Militant,” “The Decision,” “Stars of Long Nights,” “The Bride and the Siege,” “The Little Partisan Velo,” “White Pages,” and more. His final creation was the music for the film “Red Flowers, Black Flowers.”

Throughout his career, Laro collaborated with some of the best Albanian directors, such as Viktor Gjika, Dhimitër Anagnosti, Mevlan Shanaj, and others.

He began his work in this genre with the film “The Eighth in Bronze” and concluded it with the soundtrack for the film “Red Flowers, Black Flowers.” This film, released only a few months ago in the cinemas of the capital, was referred to by his colleagues as “the swan’s final song.”

The great composer, regarded by his colleagues as “Ennio Morricone,” entrusted this film music to Saimir Çili to transform it into a song. A song that was also the composer’s final wish, to be played as he was laid to rest in 2004.

/sm/