Manuel Zimmer

A seven-storey building in the centre of Tetovo, a city in the west of Macedonia, stands like a border between the part of the city where the Macedonian population lives and the other where the Albanian population lives. Albanians, Macedonians, Roma, Roma, Vlachs, Hungarians, Serbs and Bosnians have all lived in the same building for years and are all in some kind of silent conflict with each other, though they still lead their lives in common as neighbours.

A seven-storey building in the centre of Tetovo, a city in the west of Macedonia, stands like a border between the part of the city where the Macedonian population lives and the other where the Albanian population lives. Albanians, Macedonians, Roma, Roma, Vlachs, Hungarians, Serbs and Bosnians have all lived in the same building for years and are all in some kind of silent conflict with each other, though they still lead their lives in common as neighbours.

Talented people like artists or writers who stayed have one choice only: work as seamstresses. Eriela, Beti and Vesna are seamstresses in the small town of Štip. If they wanted to afford one of their handmade blouses, it would cost them a months salary. While the women are fully employed, their men are less fortunate and find themselves unemployed after the collapse of communism. A situation with a lot of potential conflict for the couples. The men find it hard to be dependent financially on their women, when they used to proudly provide for the family.

You say you’re interested in film and you’ve never been to the Moviemento? You are hereby put on cineastic probation – at least until you watch Bernd Sobolla’s documentary.

Documentary about skinheads.

Documentary about skinheads.