New York, late 1970s.
In a small immigrant apartment in the Bronx, a 9-year-old boy looks out the window at the lights of the city that never sleeps. Little does he know that one day he will photograph American presidents, Hollywood stars, and become the permanent photographer for Rolex.
He is Fadil Berisha. Today, his name is synonymous with success, but also with Albanian pride. Everyone has heard of him; as an artist, as a mentor, as an open door for every Albanian looking for a chance in America.
My question is: how did he maintain a sense of belonging and identity in a place that often devours you? What made him stand out among hundreds of talents in photography? What did Fadili have that many others didn't?
In this episode I learned something beautiful, albeit touching. How pain can turn into success. He did not plan to become a photographer, much less famous, but there are some crossroads in life that show us the way. Why did Fadil Berisha promise himself when he was still a child that he would make every Albanian look beautiful. What hurt him about his parents? What prompted him to start his own path?
And later when the lights of fame came on, how did he cope with the coldness with his father for many years? What did he say to him on his deathbed? And what does Fadil think of himself today, of his success, of his life...
*This podcast of "Zë me Miran" was supported by Vodafone, Lajthiza, Metropolitan, ABI Bank, TUMO, Globus Travel
*Reposting is prohibited without the editor's permission.
Any distortion of facts online will be pursued through legal channels.
