“Everybody Calls Redjo”, interview with director Ibër Deari

At the 16th Bari International Film & Tv Festival, FRED Film Radio interviewed the director Ibër Deari to talk about “Everybody Calls Redjo”, a film presented at the Meridiana section.

A universal story

“Everybody Calls Redjo” is a story of immigration. The protagonist decides to stay in his country while everyone around him decides to leave. “I thought that this type of immigration only happened in my country, North Macedonia and the Balkan countries, but I see that it is very universal and is happening everywhere in the world”, says Ibër Deari. “I wrote the script with Artin Selmani five years ago and from there I started to feel that all my friends were leaving my country. That was the beginning”.

A film inspired by a true story

As a young man and a director, how does the director relate to the protagonist of  “Everyone Calls Redjo”? “I related so much to the character of Redjo because I know him in real life”, explains Ibër Deari. “I asked him: ‘Are you going to leave the country?’ He replied: ‘No, I don’t need anything else. For me, it’s enough to work and be here with my family.’ And that’s why I was so fascinated by this man”.

The tone of the comedy

“Everyone Calls Redjo” addresses the topic of immigration with a comic tone. “With comedy, you can easily tell the truth. Like Charlie Chaplin’s films or Roberto Benigni’s Life is Beautiful. I tried to do the same with my film”, says Ibër Deari.

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