“In this world there are humans, gods and people like me”
Pythagoras, 5th century B.C.
“In this world there are humans, gods and people like me”
Pythagoras, 5th century B.C.
Synopsis
Life on the small remote Greek island of Gavdos seems to be tough: drinkable water is scarce, there are no petrol stations, airport or banks. Nevertheless, it attracts people from all over the world who see this supposedly free place without rules as the ‘last paradise’. Hippies live on the beach, mostly in summer but some all year round in makeshift huts and tents.
Inland, the small island population of just 60 people live a life between traditional everyday life and tourism income opportunities. And high up on the mountain, a group of former Russian nuclear physicists have been living there for 20 years, founding a philosophical school and viewing humanity from their Olympian vantage point.
Even if the island society is small, the dynamics are the same as in the big world. Times are also changing on Gavdos. The chaos of the world, triggered by globalisation, capitalism, corona and war, can also be felt on Gavdos.
The island population is getting divided. There are differences between the proponents of a tourist development that would bring money and structure and all those who reject state control and want to enjoy their simple but free life.
The dancer Pavlina wants to counter this and unite the island’s population. She fails. No one is interested in her. So she tries her own individual means. Focusing on the case of this remote island – a microcosm on the extremities of Europe – this film investigates over 10 years the rules and the fall of the modern society, its values and the roots of the problems, through which the Western peoples live nowadays. Tearing apart with two major forces ruling the world – the desire of being united and the need of keeps its own individuality.
Synopsis
Life on the small remote Greek island of Gavdos seems to be tough: drinkable water is scarce, there are no petrol stations, airport or banks. Nevertheless, it attracts people from all over the world who see this supposedly free place without rules as the ‘last paradise’. Hippies live on the beach, mostly in summer but some all year round in makeshift huts and tents.
Inland, the small island population of just 60 people live a life between traditional everyday life and tourism income opportunities. And high up on the mountain, a group of former Russian nuclear physicists have been living there for 20 years, founding a philosophical school and viewing humanity from their Olympian vantage point.
Even if the island society is small, the dynamics are the same as in the big world. Times are also changing on Gavdos. The chaos of the world, triggered by globalisation, capitalism, corona and war, can also be felt on Gavdos.
The island population is getting divided. There are differences between the proponents of a tourist development that would bring money and structure and all those who reject state control and want to enjoy their simple but free life.
The dancer Pavlina wants to counter this and unite the island’s population. She fails. No one is interested in her. So she tries her own individual means. Focusing on the case of this remote island – a microcosm on the extremities of Europe – this film investigates over 10 years the rules and the fall of the modern society, its values and the roots of the problems, through which the Western peoples live nowadays. Tearing apart with two major forces ruling the world – the desire of being united and the need of keeps its own individuality.
Stage of Production
Russian director Svetlana Strelnikova has been observing the development of the micro-society on Gavdos since 2015.
The film is a Greek-German-French co-production and is supported by various funders and TV stations: (Media – Creative Europe, Greek Filmcenter, MOIN Hamburger Filmförderung, CNC, ERT ( Grret TV)).
Shooting started in 2021 and was completed in early 2022. Since then the film has been in editing. Release is planned for 2023.
Stage of Production
Russian director Svetlana Strelnikova has been observing the development of the micro-society on Gavdos since 2015.
The film is a Greek-German-French co-production and is supported by various funders and TV stations: (Media – Creative Europe, Greek Filmcenter, MOIN Hamburger Filmförderung, CNC, ERT ( Grret TV)).
Shooting started in 2021 and was completed in early 2022. Since then the film has been in editing. Release is planned for 2023.
Director’s Motivation
Sometimes we all want to escape and the idea of escaping to an island seems very attractive.
When I first heard about Gavdos, I experienced a personal and creative crisis. I am Russian and by 2014, relations between Russia and Europe had improved, the visa was more of a formality, but then came the Ukraine crisis in 2014…
Well, the nightmare of my childhood was back. Once again I saw how easily the people of Europe and Russia were divided. So much hatred from both sides.
The idea of a utopian community is so beautiful … and it’s so easy to “sell”. It is just very difficult to keep a utopian society alive.
Human nature is divided. On the one hand, people want to unite and get closer to others. On the other hand, you should protect your borders, otherwise your society threatens to disappear.
The crisis is everywhere. Mass media play dirty games, propaganda works on all sides. And life on Gavdos seemed so peaceful and calm, but the same mechanisms apply on the small island as in the larger world.
Svetlana Strelnikova
Director’s Motivation
Sometimes we all want to escape and the idea of escaping to an island seems very attractive.
When I first heard about Gavdos, I experienced a personal and creative crisis. I am Russian and by 2014, relations between Russia and Europe had improved, the visa was more of a formality, but then came the Ukraine crisis in 2014…
Well, the nightmare of my childhood was back. Once again I saw how easily the people of Europe and Russia were divided. So much hatred from both sides.
The idea of a utopian community is so beautiful … and it’s so easy to “sell”. It is just very difficult to keep a utopian society alive.
Human nature is divided. On the one hand, people want to unite and get closer to others. On the other hand, you should protect your borders, otherwise your society threatens to disappear.
The crisis is everywhere. Mass media play dirty games, propaganda works on all sides. And life on Gavdos seemed so peaceful and calm, but the same mechanisms apply on the small island as in the larger world.
Svetlana Strelnikova
Svetlana Strelnikova
Svetlana Strelnikova is a Moscow-based award-winning documentary filmmaker interested in the intersection of idealism and real life. After graduating from the Moscow State University, she entered the National Film School. She worked as a Line producer and Fixer with foreign crews filming in Russia, and she attended a number of workshops, such as DokIncubator and Eurodoc 2016.
Her first feature film won a NYFA scholarship. Her director’s filmography includes feature-length documentaries, which received awards at festivals: DocuDays (UA), Watch Dogs (PL), Chronograph (ML), Message to Man (RU), Kinoshok (RU).
Her film, Cardiopolitika, was nominated for a Nika award – the main annual national film award presented by the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Science in 2016.
Her latest film Legend of Sigfried, released in 2020, was screened at numerous European film festivals.
Svetlana Strelnikova
Svetlana Strelnikova is a Moscow-based award-winning documentary filmmaker interested in the intersection of idealism and real life. After graduating from the Moscow State University, she entered the National Film School. She worked as a Line producer and Fixer with foreign crews filming in Russia, and she attended a number of workshops, such as DokIncubator and Eurodoc 2016.
Her first feature film won a NYFA scholarship. Her director’s filmography includes feature-length documentaries, which received awards at festivals: DocuDays (UA), Watch Dogs (PL), Chronograph (ML), Message to Man (RU), Kinoshok (RU).
Her film, Cardiopolitika, was nominated for a Nika award – the main annual national film award presented by the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Science in 2016.
Her latest film Legend of Sigfried, released in 2020, was screened at numerous European film festivals.
Fact Sheet
Genre:
Creative Documentary
Length:
80 Min.
Written and Directed by
Svetlana Strelnikowa
DoP:
Irina Shatalova
Producer:
Rea Apostolides (“Anemon Film”, Athens)
Frank Müller (“Doppelplusultra”, Hamburg)
Catherine Siméon
Cedric Bonin (Seppia, Straßbourg)
Country of Production:
Greece, Germany, France
Shooting Location:
Greece
Language:
Greek, English, Russian
Production Stage:
Production
Total Budget:
€ 344.000
Supported by
Greek Film Center
MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg
ERT (Greek TV)
CNC
Media – Creative Development
Release:
End 2023
Fact Sheet
Genre:
Creative Documentary
Length:
80 Min.
Written and Directed by
Svetlana Strelnikowa
DoP:
Irina Shatalova
Producer:
Rea Apostolides (“Anemon Film”, Athens)
Frank Müller (“Doppelplusultra”, Hamburg)
Catherine Siméon
Cedric Bonin (Seppia, Straßbourg)
Country of Production:
Greece, Germany, France
Shooting Location:
Greece
Language:
Greek, English, Russian
Production Stage:
Production
Total Budget:
€ 344.000
Supported by
Greek Film Center
MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg
ERT (Greek TV)
CNC
Media – Creative Development
Release:
End 2023
