Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria

Το Δέντρο και η Κούνια
Greece/Serbia, 2013, 107mins (Drama)
Director Maria Douza

Written by Maria Douza
Produced by Michael Sarantinos and Eleni Atiskbasis
Cast: Myrto Alikaki, Elias Logothetis, Mirjana Karanovic, Nikos Orfanos

“Homecoming has been in the centre of Greek thought and culture from the times of Homer. This is the country of Ulysses, the centre of a diaspora nation – ever migrating and ever returning.” Maria Douza

Channelling universal themes of acceptance, love and repentance, The Tree and the Swing is a powerful, multi-layered tale of one family’s estrangement.

Based on real-life circumstances, it follows Eleni (Myrto Alikaki) – a successful woman of Greek origin who has been living in London for almost two decades. Her father, Kyriakos (Elias Logothetis) remains in Greece where he is the mayor of their hometown. Having been a refugee child in Serbia after World War Two, who had to battle his way back to Greece, he has never forgiven Eleni for leaving ‘home’.  

A crisis within the family prompts Eleni to return with hopes of reconciliation with her father. But the home she returns to bears little resemblance to the one she left.

Festivals & Awards: Montreal World Film Festival 2013, Athens International Film Festival 2013, New York City Greek Film Festival 2013

About the Director:
Maria Douza is a graduate of Athens University and the National Film and Television School of England. With a weighty CV of acclaimed short films, television commercials and documentaries, The Tree And The Swing is her debut feature film.

To buy tickets, watch the trailer and for more information about the Greek Film Festival 2013 please click here to visit the official website.