Documentary: Exotica, Erotica, Etc. – by Evangelia Kranioti; Friday, 20.01., 22:45, Cinema 2

This essay film tells of the ocean as a place of yearning, of the world of giant container ships and their crews, and the women that wait for them in ports and drinking holes. The protagonists’ thoughts are rendered as inner monologues in voiceover, all set to striking documentary images. Sandy represents all the women willing to give themselves to strange men, the perfect complement for the desire of all those roaming restlessly from port to port. The film has an affectionate eye for this eccentric former prostitute, for her body marked by life, lust, and the men she’s met, as well as for her free, yet romantic idea of love. She is a siren and Penelope in equal measure. The voices of the various sailors come to symbolise all the men who risk their lives facing dangers at sea and temptations on shore, much like Odysseus once did.

Alone among men on board gigantic freighters, the director travelled to 16 countries and lived with prostitutes in various harbour towns. From these experiences she has created a film whose impressive images and haunting soundtrack merge into a maritime symphony, a narrative of freedom, longing, love, and desire.

Evangelia Kranioti

Born in Athens in 1979. She studied piano at the Athens National Conservatory and Public Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She studied Visual Arts & Prints as well as Editorial Design at the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs of Paris. In 2014, she graduated from Le Fresnoy – Studio national des arts contemporains in France. Since 2007, she has presented her photographic, installation and lm work in numerous exhibitions in several European countries as well as in the United States and in Japan. EXOTICA, EROTICA, ETC. is her rst feature-length lm.

release date:

2015

director:

Evangelia Kranioti

country:

France

duration:

73 mins

languages:

Greek with English subtitles