Time of the Comet 2008

Set in 1914, a pivotal year when William of Wied is enthroned as Prince of Albania, the Principality finds itself squeezed by neighboring powers that are eager to take control. Against this backdrop, a young idealist villager named Shestan, Blerim Destani, gathers a small band and travels across the country in search of enemy troops to fight for his homeland and his people.

Along his journeys, Shestan meets a spectrum of factions, including the Ottoman loyalist group led by Kus Babaj, Çun Lajçi. He also encounters Agnes, Masiela Lusha, a woman whose father has arranged for her to become a Catholic nun. A connection forms between Shestan and Agnes, and he finds himself falling in love as the two characters navigate their hopes and loyalties amid the chaos around them.

As Shestan presses on, he reaches Prince William’s headquarters and offers his services, asking to fight on the frontline. The prince responds with a mocking remark about his eagerness, leaving Shestan deeply disappointed and questioning the worth of his efforts. Undeterred, he decides to return toward his village, yet a chance reunion with Agnes—who has been kidnapped by a figure known as Mad Ahmed, a Muslim extremist—pulls him back into danger. He acts to free her, demonstrating courage in a world torn by conflict.

Returning home, Shestan and Agnes marry, choosing to build a life together despite the instability surrounding them. Their personal milestone coincides with a major historical turning point: the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo, which ushers in World War I and the far-reaching upheavals that follow. As news of the war spreads, Shestan’s companions press him for a plan about their future actions. The film resolves with his quiet, defiant line to his comrades: > “Play the music louder”