Animal (Sofia Exarchou, 2023) + celebration with Greek drinks

Sofia Exarchou | 2023 | Greece | 116’ | EN subs

In honour of Animal’s journey and its nomination for the Lux European Audience Award there will be a screening of the film in Filmhuis Cavia, to celebrate the makers and greek cinema in general. There will be a prologue from the curator, Dimitra Alexiou, film composer from Greece, as well as greek drinks for people to enjoy after the screening. The film has traveled the whole world in important festivals, has won several awards, and concludes its journey with this nomination. Join us for a journey deep inside the truths of the tourism high season in Greece, its ups, its downs, and the reality of the working people there.

ANIMAL

The entertainers on an all-inclusive Greek island are preparing for high season. Kalia is the leader of the group and always has to keep the colorful program alive. Hotel Mirage is the deceptive name of a mid-segment Greek beach hotel. Its clientele is made up mainly of older tourists, who love the entertainment laid on in the form of dance shows, bingo and aquarobics. This provides a living for Kalia and the younger entertainers, who don’t have too much to complain about as long as they can enjoy the benefits of a bohemian life. As the work becomes increasingly harder and more intense, things get out of hand. But the show must go on.
 
At first glance, they are a carefree bunch of pleasure-seekers: the entertainers who earn a crust keeping the guests amused at a Greek beach hotel. But for one of them, this illusion is rapidly approaching its sell-by date.