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2021-2022

Short Film -  Promotional Teaser / Duration 5’00''

 

 

WORKING GROUP

Ifigenia Dimitriou (Written & Directed), Asimina - Lydia Dionysopoulou (Cinematography),  Spyros Vrettakos (Cameraman),  Spyros Tzinieris (Drone Operator), Ifigenia Dimitriou, Eleni Papageorgopoulou, Angeliki Mexia  (Art Direction), Nun Agni & Nun Elizabeth of the Pantanassa Monastery  (Costume Design), Vasiliki Syrma (Costume Curator), Flora Kalomiri (Actress), Eleni Papageorgopoulou (1st Assistant Director), Diamantis Arabatzis (2nd Assistant Director), Arsinoi Pilou (Focus Puller), Gerasimos Soulis (Gaffer), Vasso Nikolakakou (Hair Styling), Maria Gomatou (Make-up Artist), Spyros Vrettakos, Georgia Arvaniti (Color Correction), Alexis Paraschos (Visual Effects),  Ifigenia Dimitriou (Editing, Sound Design), Dimitris Vachaviolos, Panagiotis Dermatas (Sound Mixing)

 

 

The Short Film was realised as part of the Project "Enhancement - Exhibition Tour at the Despot's Palace in the Archaeological Site of Mystra" of the Regional Operational Program "Peloponnese 2014 - 2020" implemented by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Laconia.

 

The Despot's Palace is the most emblematic monument of the castle-city of Mystra and one of the very few Byzantine palatial complexes to survive to this day - the only one to be found in Greece. Apart from its outstanding value from an architectural point of view, is bears witness to the historical and cultural processes that created it, during the last centuries of a politically declining but culturally flourishing Byzantine Empire.

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The majestic complex was the seat of the administration of the Despotate for more than a century, from the mid-14th century to the mid-15th century, hosting within its premises a bustling society and various public and private functions. The Emperors and members of the imperial family, arriving from the capital of the empire, the Despots and their consorts- either Byzantine or Western European princesses- but also members of the local or expatriate aristocracy, coexist with bureaucrats and public officials, clergymen, soldiers, scholars, artists and auxiliary staff, in a strictly defined hierarchy, forming a "court" that emulates that of Constantinople.

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The project "Enhancement - Exhibition Tour" of the Despot's Palace has a human-centered approach and focuses on the people of the palace, seeking the traces of their presence. A path is therefore created around a basic narrative axis, through which visitors become the protagonists of the story, "watch" the marks of the people who lived there, follow their footsteps in the Despot’s apartments and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the time.

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The short film follows a similar narrative course. Through a one-take shot, the spectator crosses the spaces of the palace and watches people of the time in successive roles. From the lower apartments, the cook and then the maid move upstairs, where the mistresses live. The narrative course culminates, as the "queen" of Mystra enters the throne hall, to finally reveal that she is a visitor, who, traveling back in time, identifies herself with the people of the time. The aim of the film is to use a cinematic language in order to give life to the Despot's Palace of the Archaeological site of Mystra for a few minutes and to prepare the viewer for the digital exhibition that will be hosted inside the monument.

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