Ody's home, Athens
Xenia's story is about two siblings
in search of their father...
Panagiotis Evangelidis Co-Scriptwriter
...either to exploit him or to take revenge on him
It's Dani and Odysseas.
Odysseas is more down-to-earth.
He keeps a lower profile
than Dani who's more boisterous,
more rowdy, more extrovert...
We always wanted the two brothers to fit each other
and coexist harmoniously
and looked forward to the potential result of this blending.
Anyway, we don't look like Albanians.
Yes but you do look like a poof and that might be even worse.
We don't need to look Albanians, we simply are.
- You are. - Say what you want.
You are an Albanian too.
- Both Albanian and gay. - Beach and mountain in one package!
Cut it out.
They are two kids born to an Albanian mother.
Their father has not recognized them so they are considered to be Albanians
with all the problems entailed by that in modern Greece.
Department of Aliens, Athens
Katerina Barbatsalou, Script girl
Elektra Lila Koutra, Legal counsel / 'Antigone'
You'll be able to go out. Don't worry. It's nothing serious.
Let's go to Thessaloniki. Let's leave.
It's the right moment. You'll go to 'The Greek Star'
you'll pass the test rightaway, then we'll visit the 'Unmentionable,'
to get his money and the citizenship...
- What Jenny told us to do! - Forget that for now, Dani.
Hey, come on. You're leaving.
- Ody, I beg you! - Come on!
Stick the two phrases together...
'So don't talk anymore. Get out of here'
Panos was looking for two kids with this kind of experience
and as immigrants ourselves indeed we have experienced
a lot of hardships in the past
Kostas Nikouli, 'Dani'
the difficulties of issuing documents,
the way the people were treating you,
which was the hardest thing.
We mainly worked on the relationship of the two brothers.
What Panos wanted was...
these two kids not knowing each other before casting
to look like real brothers on the screen.
He used to tell us
'you've been through all that,' 'nothing's strange to you,'
I myself have got a younger brother.
'Think of the affection you show to your brother,' he said,
'the way you scold him or speak to him.'
Good morning.
Dani is a marginalized person in many respects.
First, he's not Greek while living in a country like Greece
Second, he's gay,
that's something also pushing him to the margins...
When he sees a woman or other person...
brutalized...
that's something that affects him personally.
It's like someone doing that to Dani himself.
Because that would be possible. He can see himself in all that.
And that, of course, freaks him out.
Euripides Street, Athens Centre
The scene shot at that night was very important for us all.
Those who hadn't already apprehended...
Eleni Kossifydou, Producer
...the importance of this scene, when reading the script,
that night could realize...
some of the most...
essential themes of the film,
for example the way...
certain groups are treating
the immigrants living in Athens and in Greece in general.
Is all right with you? Is everything all right?
That's great, boys.
Come on, Dani!
Tassos' home, Athens
No... get up for a moment.
When you're coming out and you sit like this,
then you may change your stance like this and like this...
And then get up...
Come on then. Get up and start.
All right, suppose you find him.
- What if it's not him? - Oops!
- That means you're not sure? - You told Jenny it was him!
Yes, the guy I saw at a club in Thessaloniki
where Theothoridou performed two months ago.
He's well known there
because he's an extreme-right candidate for mayor.
What? Extreme-right?
Yannis Stankoglou, 'Lefteris'
I was two when you left. You changed as well, didn't you?
- He claims that he's your son. - Will you keep calm?
Lefteris' home, Dionysos Attiki
I couldn't get up this morning.
They were trying to wake me.
'Marissa, wake up, you have shooting.'
'No, no, I lied you. I never had any shooting!'
Marissa Triandafyllidou, 'Vivi'
- What are you doing to the poor man? - Boy, that smarts!
I think it's one of the most difficult scenes...
From a technical point of view
because there was fight, there were gunshots,
many things...
and from the dramatic point of view.
There some deep-rooted, strong feelings inside this character
about the gone father.
They left their mark on him and he does not want to remember.
He will recall them only at that specific moment.
What about you?
Can you remember me?
Oh, you're not less crazy!
Goddamnit!
Well...
I'm going to give you all the money I've got here.
It's in the desk drawer.
- Ody, he nodded to her! - Lefteris! It's enough!
It's our best take so far. Thank you.
Let's try once more.
They've shut down ERT (State TV)!
Yes I've seen it.
But they say it will reopen...
With another name... NERIT!
Don't they say something like that?
- About what? - About ERT.
- Errikos (Henry)? - No, NERIT!
Co-producer
Next Monday
is the scheduled departure date for shooting in the countryside.
Right this moment we don't know if we're going to depart.
Because with the closure of ERT
we don't know what's going to happen
with their officially announced
agreement to participate in the co-production of this film,
Panos' 'Xenia...'
As a consequence of that,
'Eurimages' which is also a co-producer,
stepped back and waits for us
to prove that we have a way to cover the financial hole
created by ERT.
Xenia, Kozani
Here's to 'Xenia!' [stressed falsely on the first syllable]
'Xenia,' you ignorant, 'Xenia!'
Is this 'Rumore'?
Where did you have it?
'Rumore'?
Sing all the song. You too!
That's definitely the idea?
Otherwise, it looks fake...
You must look at each other, it's something shared between you,
and you laugh...
I don't mind you actually not singing,
- Just the words. - But I'm doing all this!
- One way or another. - No, you didn't.
Only near the end.
- You know the words, don't you? - Yes I do.
Great. I want them all!
Director of Photography
Whenever I recall the shooting at that specific night,
I remember joy, music...
everyone behind the cameras,
we were dancing all the time, having a great mood, smiling,
despite the fatigue because it was late at night.
We were exhausted from all the previous shooting.
When that scene came, we were full of smiles
enjoying what we were doing.
Panorama, Thessaloniki
Then she says to you, 'Ciao, caro.'
When she says that,
it's like a religious experience, like you seeing your mother.
Almost tears are coming to your eyes.
We are ready to start shooting. Weather is most favourable...
It's getting worse!
Let me think for a moment. Let me think...
So... it's raining only here.
I'm just thinking of moving somewhere else to do the scene...
Move a little bit upwards.
It's not raining over there.
Dido!
Where are you, Dido?
What if I sit like this and you give me that pillow?
- Just a moment. - Lift your body a little.
And search for Dido. Lift your body. A bit more. There.
'Dido!'
Pineios River, Thessaly
Don't you want to paint them
red or yellow so as to be more visible?
We can.
Thank you, kids!