Most people don't even know where Albania is, which naturally leads to a fear of the unknown. And yet here I was visiting two UNESCO World Heritage sites and passing through some of the most picturesque and untouched mountain regions and bright turquoise blue coastlines that I have ever seen.
The wonderful thing about Albania is that not only is it extraordinarily beautiful and provides everything you could want out of a vacation (wonderful seafood, fresh farms, affordability, culture, and history), but it's also surrounded by a nation of people who are some of the kindest, most welcoming people I've ever met. Albania was even one of the few countries in Europe who hid Jewish families in their homes and passed them off as their own to escape the Nazis during World War II. An Albanian code of honor and hospitality—known as "Besa"—is a promise of guardianship and protection in our culture. This understanding struck a chord because I've always been an extremely protective and loyal person. Bottom line: This country, these people, and the triumphs and tragedies of their past, present and future, had to be documented and shared. The seeds of our PBS documentary, Dear Albania, were planted and ready to grow.
For the last four years, with the help of countless Albanians as well as others from other backgrounds, my brother and I have worked to construct our beloved documentary. It illustrates our journey of finding ourselves, our roots, and our ancestral history within Albania and its nearby borders. Our film is a true testament to the remarkable and magical land of our grandparents, our Albanian heritage, and our Albanian brothers and sisters across the globe. We hope every single person who watches the film appreciates this and becomes curious about their own origins.
During the film, I was granted Albanian dual citizenship and given my Albanian passport. Today and for all time, I, Eliza Dushku, am an official Albanian-American citizen and intend to continue to honor my roles by being a global service activist. This is a part of my story of discovering the Albanian in me.
You can find out where to watch Dear Albania by visiting the official website here.
