Selvie, which stands for cypress tree in Albanian, is one of the oldest symbols of mourning and death, but it is also a tree planted in burial sites for protection against evil spirits.

Dwelling between mourning and hope, a woman named Selvie walks us through her own story, which is the one of many in Kamza. It is also a story that reminds us on the importance of community support and bonding as a form of resistance.

This short video is part of a greater discourse that reflects on the real architectural conditions that sustain community life and bonds over time against ruthless neoliberal dynamics of destruction.

Let’s call for Selvie’s magic, to remember that we can also conjure spells to protect life in our communities as our ancestors did.
@en