Greek director Elina Psykou has assembled an accomplished ensemble cast for her upcoming film “Patrimonial Fears and Other Illusions,” which will be presented at the Venice Gap-Financing Market from September 4-6. The production features three respected Greek actors: Xenia Kalogeropoulou, whose distinguished career spans six decades and includes a role in “Before Midnight”; Antonis Kafetzopoulos, a Locarno Film Festival best actor winner; and Makis Papadimitriou, a Hellenic Film Academy Award recipient known for films including “Suntan” and “Chevalier.”
Written and directed by Psykou, the narrative centers on three women from a single family as they confront deeply rooted fears. The story weaves together the experiences of an elderly widow escaping an abusive relationship, a one-eyed performer battling her past, and a Bulgarian immigrant seeking freedom from her marriage. These personal struggles unfold as a renowned magician prepares to perform an elaborate illusion at Athens’ iconic Acropolis, creating a symbolic backdrop for the women’s attempts to escape their family’s traumatic history.
Psykou describes the film as an exploration of intergenerational trauma and how fear, dishonesty, and violence shape family relationships and limit personal freedom. The project represents an international collaboration between production companies in Greece, the Netherlands, and Cyprus, with support from various European cultural institutions. The director’s previous work, the documentary “Stray Bodies,” premiered at CPH:DOX in 2023, while her 2017 narrative feature “Son of Sofia” won recognition at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Originally reported by Variety →
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