Archive of films Joy / Hara

Greece
2012, 79 min

Section: Another View
Year: 2013

Hara, a woman in her middle years, enters a maternity ward and leaves shortly afterwards with a newborn baby. The story, told largely through images with a minimum of dialogue, allows the viewer to see right inside Hara and to examine the motives which led her to commit such a socially unacceptable act.

Synopsis

A middle-aged woman enters a maternity hospital and, a moment later, leaves with a baby in her arms. We observe Hara taking care of the three-month-old infant, cherishing it as if it were her own, singing to it and even taking a trip to the coast to show the baby the sea. The story, told largely through images with a minimum of dialogue, allows the viewer to see right inside Hara and to examine the motives which led her to commit such a socially unacceptable act. The very first scene sets the uneasy tone of the film. The director is acutely aware of the viewer’s sense of anticipation and follows Hara’s actions with an intuitive and non-judgemental eye. The heroine’s unspoken motivation creates a tension which is reinforced by the black-and-white stylisation and the stark interiors. The hugely persuasive power of this sincere testimony is also attributable to the performance of Amalia Moutoussi, who plays Hara. The director states that this film is "an attempt to share the feelings of a very unique character, a complex yet pure soul.”

About the director

Elias Yannakakis (b. 1968) is a film director, screenwriter and producer of both features and documentaries. He has shot more than 100 documentaries tackling a variety of themes. Since 2000 he has been a regular collaborator on the ET1 arts and culture documentary series "Paraskinio.” He also made the two fantasy shorts Last Act (Teleftaia praxi, 1996) and Patagonia (1998). His feature films Alemaya (2004) and Joy (2012) both address the female psyche. Selected doc. filmography: Yannis Kouros – Forever Running (Giannis Kouros – Aenaos kinoumenos, 2004), Walter the Greek (2005), Makronisos – Exile Island (2008), Forever Champions (Gia panta protathlites, 2009), Dodeka gynaikes mono-logoun (2010), Skies sto fos (2011).

Contacts

Rendez-Vous Pictures Intl.
2 rue de la Durance, 750 12, Paris
France
Tel: +33 950 707 830
Fax: +33 140 190 773
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.rendezvouspictures.com

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About the film

Black & white, 35 mm

Section:	Another View

Director:	Elias Yannakakis
Screenplay:	Elias Yannakakis
Dir. of Photography:	Giorgos Argyroiliopoulos
Music:	The Boy
Editor:	Dora Masklavanou
Producer:	Elias Yannakakis
Cast:	Amalia Moutoussi, Giorgos Symeonidis, Nikos Flessas, Lida Protopsalti, Stefania Goulioti
Contact:	Rendez-Vous Pictures Intl.

Guests

Philippe Tasca-Roochvarg

Distributor