THE DREAM & THE LIE: Film Screening and Discussion

This program is expected to reach capacity. An RSVP does not guarantee admittance to the A-Frame Theater; please arrive early to secure a seat.

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 art 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 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 discussion with the artist.

Bio:

Elena Dorfman is an Albanian American artist working in film and photography. Her numerous projects have been exhibited and collected by major institutions around the world. THE DREAM & THE LIE is her debut feature-length film. She’s based in Los Angeles.

An ADA-accessible entrance to the Glorya Kaufman Community Center is available through the gate from the parking lot into the garden.