The Dream & The Lie: Film Screening and Q&A

Isolated. Paranoid. Defiant. From 1944 to 1991, Albania was Eastern Europe’s most secretive regime. Amidst severe oppression, more than 300 films were produced to promote the strict form of Marxism espoused by its omnipotent gold-toothed dictator, Enver Hoxha.

In The Dream & The Lie, Albanian-American artist Elena Dorfman reimagines this rarely seen cinematic archive into a powerful, immersive triptych film. Composed of dozens of propaganda features and documentaries from the Albanian National Film Archive, the work is a visual symphony in three movements, exploring nationalism, forced modernization, and the human cost of state control.

At once haunting and poetic, The Dream & The Lie examines the tension between art and politics as something both specific to Albania and universal. In today's world, where the arts face increasing challenges under ideologically repressive governments, Dorfman's film serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of artistic expression, and as a tribute to the artists who create compelling work despite severe restrictions.

Join us for a screening followed by a Q&A with the artist.

Host or Publisher The Wende Museum