Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria

Greece, 2013, 105mins (Drama)
Director Penny Panayotopoulou

Follows in the footsteps of Wasted Youth (GFF 2012) and Boy Eating the Bird's Food (GFF 2012) in depicting desperation during times of crisis.

Filmmaker Penny Panayotopoulou takes no prisoners in this cinematic assault on grief and loss. She introduces us to Ana (Kora Karvouni) and her dog Manu, who share an inseparable relationship. With the exception of some neighbouring children who also have a fondness for the dog, they're the centres of each other's lives until that co-dependency is shattered when Manu passes away.

The mother of the children, Sophia (Maria Skoula), is sympathetic to Ana, and allows Manu to be buried in the family's backyard. With her canine companion gone, Ana is afforded glimpses into a new kind of relationship that a life with Manu could never have given her. Slowly, she attempts to replace Manu with Sophia and her children – a move that is destined for failure.

"Kora Karvouni is terrific in a tricky role... a beautifully subtle performance." The Hollywood Reporter

Written by Penny Panayotopoulou, Kallia Papadaki

Produced by Penny Panayotopolou, Thanassis Karathanos, Burkhard Althoff

Cast: Kora Karvouni, Maria Skoula, Nikos Diamandis, Christos Stergioglou

About the Director:

Penny Panayotopoulou studied law at the University of Athens and film directing at Stavrakos Film School. In 1985, she received her BA in photography and film from the Polytechnic of Central London (University of Westminster). She made her feature film debut with Hard Goodbyes: My Father (2002).

Greek Synopsis:

Η ηρωίδα της ταινίας αναζητεί επίμονα διέξοδο στη βασανιστική της μοναξιά, το μήνα Σεπτέμβριο, τον πιο μελαγχολικό μήνα του χρόνου.