Rikard Ljarja (1943-2020)
Actor, director, screenwriter “Merited Artist” – Colossus of Albanian cinematography!
There are few actors who are identified in more than 2-3 roles they have played: “Dritan Shkaba”; “Skender Guri”; “Perlati”; “Rrema”; “Z. Dosti”; “Luka” …..some of the roles in which he appeared on the movie screen, but above all, Albanian art lovers identify him with the role of the “fillerojtesit” Dede in the film “White Roads”.
Rikard Ljarja, with roles spanning an endless artistic life, is the “teacher, the light of knowledge” in Albanian Cinematography, the one who illuminated the minds and souls of Albanians in acting and directing, in their darkest times. He was a man characterized by simplicity, and an artist of colossal proportions, remaining such until the end, a model, an example, the unit of measurement for the new acting generation and not only.
After the collapse of Kinostudio, he was one of the few actors who refused to be part of a decadent, refined cinematography, at the level of dilettantism. He refused the title “Honor of the Nation”, which had become fashionable for everyone, because he knew well the heavy weight of those words, as well as the misuse of that title. After all, Rikard Ljarja had long held a title, that, the greatest title, the appreciation he received, first from Shkodra where he grew up and was educated as an artist, and then from his Albanian people!
Perhaps few people know this, but he was also a musician. His name is found as a composer at the 2nd RTSH Song Festival with the song “Bregdeti” in 1963, sung by Ndreke Gjergji and Bujar Mersini (as dubbing).
Born on April 1, 1943, in Shkodër, (in the Skanderbeg neighborhood).
Ljarja made with love both the director and the screenwriter and the actor. With the humor of a Shkodran, he would say that he had always celebrated his birthday on April 3, due to the very fact that April 1 is known as the day of lies (foolish day)…. and always continuing with his humor, it was a time that he was so popular in Albania during the 70s-80s that when someone asked him how many people were at home, he answered: “Me, my wife, the two children and Rikard Larja”
Within a short period of time, he would become one of the most active and famous actors of the Albanian scene. In 1960, after graduating from high school in Shkodra at the “Jordan Misja” gymnasium, Rikardi continued his high school for acting at the Aleksander Moisiu acting school in Tirana, where he graduated in 1965.
From this year until 1973, worked as an actor at the “Migjeni” Theater of Shkodra, while in 1996-2002 he was the Artistic Director of Albanian Television, after this period enjoyed his retirement.
His cinematographic career started in 1965 when he devoted himself completely cinematography as an actor, performing very successfully in many films. Although his name has not been mentioned much on the screen after the nineties, before these years, the acting figure of Rikard Ljarje has always been at the center of the screen and the Albanian stage.
His portrait was constantly present, both in the cinema and on Albanian television. The famous actor originally from Shkodra, with his interpretation and special portrait, had conquered the cinema screen as well as the television screen.
Distinguished not only by his attractive appearance, his vocals, but also by his ability to act, R. Larja has performed about a hundred roles on stage and in cinematography. “Merited Artist”, the great actor, whose name has already been engraved forever in the history of Albanian cinema.
Immediately after graduating as an actor, his first role in the cinematography comes, where the talented interpretation of this role has opened the way for many other roles. In his first debut, he played the role of the teacher, who was Dritan Shkaba, in the feature film “Commissar of Light”.
Then Ljarja has another key role in the movie “Silent Duel”, that of a sailor (Skender Guri), where skillfully interprets alongside the great, “People’s Artist” Ndrek Luca, a real event turned into a movie.
Later, films and other roles followed since from 1973 to 1996, he performed as an actor in the films “Old Wounds”, “White Roads”, “Triumph over death”, “Illegals”, “Radio Station”, “Bitter Spring”. , “Memory Circle”, “White Papers” (TV) etc.
In 1974 Ljarja will professionally interpret another leading role to make him remain in the memory of the Albanian art lovers, that of the “Fillerojtesi” Deda unforgettable in “White Roads”;
As a director, Ljarja made the films “Weight of Time”, “When the Doors of Life Open”, “Sketerre `43”, “Radio Station” etc.
As a director, his most successful film remains “When the doors of life open”, which was made in 1986, where Ljarja was also the author of the script. This film was awarded the “Aleksandër Moisiu” award. It does not matter the philosophy conveyed in those films made under a totalitarian system, the image and characters that Larja left behind have made him remain as one of the unique actors produced by the former giant of those years, Kinostudio.
On the one hand, very little is said about Rikard Larja and the fact that he writes. The man whose portrait we are accustomed to identify immediately as soon as we see him with the film, has another talent, writing.
Friends, but also those readers who have read his books, know that Rikardi knows how to write well. During his career, he has produced two film scripts such as “The Weight of Time” in 1988 and “When the Doors of Life Open” in 1986.
In his activity during the 2000s, we can mention the one in 2009, “Shen Gjon krye-preri ” the comedy, directed by Stefan Capaliku, which brings back the actor Rikard Ljarja to the theater stage.
In 2012, in the re-dubbing of the new version of the film “Skenderbeu”, with contemporary parameters and in literary language, Larja dubs the voice of our national hero.
Then, at the beginning of 2013, the art lovers had the opportunity to see the actor in a wonderful performance of the professional Theater “Petro Marko” of Vlora, which was presented with the show “Testament” by Ferdinand Hysi, directed by Roland Minga.
Larja played here the role of the 100-year-old grandfather, who invites his grandchildren to come to him because he has a testament to say.
Rikard Ljarja also writes books such as “Dog Times” – Confessions; “We are lost around here”; “A Desolate Place”;
In 2018, the book Josifopedia was published by “Mapoedition”.
For his acting and directorial merits, he was honored with the title “Merited Artist”.
Rikard Ljarja passed away after a serious illness at the age of 77, on April 20, 2020 (19 days after celebrating his 77th birthday).
According to the bequest left, his body rests in peace in Shkoder at the “Rremaje” cemetery .
Performances in the “Migjeni” Theater !
1. “How steel was ridden” Author: F. Bondarenko. Directed by: Esat Oktrova. Premiere: 30.06.1966 Character: Sepjozha Penzhak.
2. “The chick that harvested the mountains” Author: Loni Papa. Directed by: Mihal Luarasi. Premiere: 11.09.1966 Character: The investigator.
3.”The fifth was captured alive” Author: K. Zoraqi Director: Prengë Lëkunda. Premiere: 27.11.1966 Character: Marashi+As/director
4.”Bullet in the dowry” Author: Fadil Kraja. Directed by: Serafin Fanko. Premiere: 27.07.1967 Character: Frani.
5. “Events in the factory” Author: Fadil Paçrami. Directed by: Jonuz Dini. Premiere: 13.07.1968 Character: Jashari+ As/ director.
6. “Drita” Author: Mimika Luca. Director: Elez Kadria. Premiere: 13.10.1968 Character: Petriti.
7. “Diary of a teacher” Author: Fadil Kraja, Jonuz Dini. Directed by: Jonuz Dini. Premiere: 09.02.1969 Character: Sadiku + As/director.
8. “Slum (Poor neighborhood)” Author: Fadil Paçrami. Directed by: Serafin Fanko. Premiere: 10.07.1969 Character: Sazani.
9. “Gallery” Author: Vath Koreshi. Director: Rikard Ljarja. Premiere: 13.07.1969 Character: Andrea.
10. “Signals of the night” Author: Fadil Kraja. Directed by: Violeta Sekuj. Premiere: 30.04.1970 Character: George.
11. “Our land” Author: Kolë Jakova. Directed by: Serafin Fanko. Premiere: 11.11.1970 Character: Leka.
12. “Over the ruins” Author: Fadil Paçrami. Director: Elez Kadria. Premiere: 29.04.1971 Character: Bird.
13.”Shots over decor” Author: Hilmi Tukaj. Directed by: Serafin Fanko. Premiere: 10.07.1971 Character: Faithful.
14.” Year 61″ Author: Fadil Paçrami. Directed by: Serafin Fanko. Premiere: 25.11.1971 Character: Petriti.
15. “The dream of the earth” Author: Frederik Rreshpja. Directed by: Violeta Sekuj. Premiere: 20.12.1972 Character: Mari.
16. “Four of the army” Author: Serafin Fanko. Director: Rikard Ljarja. Premiere: 13.07.1968 Character: Gender.
17. “Dramatic concert” (poetic and dramatic montage of different authors) Director: Serafin Fanko. Premiere: 29.03.1973
18. “Cuca e maleve” (second version) Author: Loni Papa. Director: Elez Kadria. Premiere: 19.05.1973 Character: The investigator.
19. “Shen Gjon kryepremi” Author: Stefan Çapaliku. Directed by: Stefan Çapaliku. Premiere: 24.04.2009 Character: John.
Performances in Movies as an actor:
Commissar of Light – (1966)…….Dritan Shkaba, teacher
Silent Duel – (1967)……….sailor Skender Guri;
Triumph over Death – (1967)……Perlati ;
Old Wounds – (1968)………eng. Naimi;
When a Day Dawned – (1971)……..The Commissar;
Star of the long Nights – (1972) ……Gendarme
Consciousness – (1972)………Fitimi
Warpaths – (1974)….
The Explosion – (1974)…….Engineer;
White roads – (1974)…….Deda;
Alleys that sought sun – (1975)……..Gaqoja;
At the beginning of the summer – (1975)……..One of the leaders of the illegal activists
Illegals – (1976)………Mr. Tosti.;
In the snowy woods there is life – (1978)……Luka;
Radio Station – (1979)…….The Commissar;
“Sketerre” `43 – (1980)………A Communist Prisoner
Bitter Spring – (1985) ………. Photographer ;
On the verge of life – (1985)………Andrea;
The stones of my house – (1985)…….the Italian officer
Circle of memory – (1987)….the chief physician;
The Weight of Time – (1988)….Chairman
White Papers – (1990)……Writer;
Victims of Tivari – (1996)……..
Time of the comet – (2008)……episodic role of a villager
As a director:
The weight of time – (1988)
When the doors of life open – (1986)
The end of a blood feud – ( 1983)
First day of appointed – (1981)
“Sketerre” `43 – (1980)
Radio Station – (1979)
In the Snowy Woods There Is Life – (1978)
Two Films as Screenwriter:
The Weight of Time – (1988)
When the Doors of Life Open – (1986)
Date of publication for the first time: in April 2013 on Facebook on the page with the same name and revised in the following years.
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Albanian Cinematography in activity since 2013
Reference: Texts, writings, various articles from online Albanian websites and newspapers.
The photos are the contribution of the administrators of the site.
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