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Sunday, April 5, 2015

Louder than a Scream; Greek Whisper Viral Film Urges Europeans to Love

“My words are a call for a mutual hug.” This is how the new short film, entitled ‘In Case I Don’t Die: A Greek Whisper To Europe’ starts. The viral video is asking Europeans to save Greece; save Europe and ultimately themselves! It is an unconventional approach of audiovisual narration regarding the current financial havoc that torments all European citizens. Its intriguingly chosen introductory quotes dole out tantalizing pieces of information keeping the viewer in a state of anticipation and curiosity. “No, don’t look at me like that… I won’t make you feel uncomfortable, no more than necessary,” whispers the beautiful Greek girl ‘Dani’ continuing “you know that this video could begin or end with an imposing shot of the Acropolis, or the Olympics., or the deep blue waters of the Aegean, or with people losing their jobs and homes, or others sleeping in tiny carton boxes, or others driving luxurious cars. But this shall not happen. Because this video wasn’t made to impress nor to shock you. Because these words are not a scream. They’re a whisper”. Watch the short film below: Written and directed by Nicolas Androulakis and full of explanatory, expressive and symbolic elements, the video has gone viral on social media and featured on numerous sites. The heartrending words of the screenwriter along with the sophisticated acting of Danny (Ioanna) Giannakopoulou, constitute an honest call for a ‘mutual hug’ between Europeans whispering nothing else but an underestimated yet powerful message, Greece’s need to make the change from a ‘guinea pig of austerity’ to a ‘guinea pig of hope.’ The video holds a cracked mirror to our most cherished beliefs about European life. You can read it as an anti- authoritarian statement or straight-up surrealism. Because it is part enigma, part allegory and even sci-fi in its creation of a completely alternate reality. “No state deserves to be a protectorate. The thirst of our tree, the debts which accountants analyse look like chainsaws of ghosts. We can’t see them. You can’t touch them. There is homeostasis in our tree. Just like our body. It’s up to us to ensure its health and resistance. It’s up to us to cure it. With faith in its strength. Without killing it out of zeal. Without amputating it.” The subjectively interpreted story implies of misanthropic social scientists that are experimenting on European people who have been, long ago, sequestered from the real world, imprisoned within the confines of an otherwise ‘idyllic’ European Union. They are manipulated into fear-driven obedience by their paranoid masters, not having the opportunity to view anything from outside their walls because everything is a potential threat for their stability. “Nations were left to daydream. Artificial wet dreams made of vanity,” whispers the Dani! We failed in an attempt to make it through. No body and no sole deserves harsh austerity measures. My generation’s hopes do not deserve to be sacrificed in favor of fiscal health. “Because the mechanisms of Troika forget about the people. And without people what good are economies and countries and unions for? We won’t be there to witness them getting sanitized. Hope is a Left-wing feeling by default. Because everyone is worth it. Hope isn’t about political parties and policies. Because emotions have no responsibilities. Responsibilities need to have feelings. For optimism. For growth. For economic and political unity within this Continent we all call “Motherland”. Against all Cassandra’s prophecies. Against all obscurantists and fascists and nihilists. Europe belongs to Us. Euro is our currency. It’s a sign of life and power. Of us all. The video says about austerity and the memoranda:  “We dared to implement it. And we made it. In paper. And yet we are dying. In life. Now we dare to be the guinea pig of hope. For a fairer Europe. With lots of hard work. With honesty. Together. Don’t leave us alone. Don’t be afraid. I want and I can contribute. I can bear it. As long as I have the right to smile. You?» “In case I don’t die- A Greek whisper to Europe” Featuring: Ioanna Giannakopoulou Music: K. BHTA Camera operator: Argyris Tsepelikas Steadicam: Theodosis Tzavaras Follow focus: Marios Pougkakiotis Assistant director: Christos Karasavvidis Subtitling: Catherine Velissaratou Editor: Kostas Koufiopoulos, Written and Directed by Nicolas Androulakis


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com