ΑΡΚΟΥΔΌΤΡΥΠΑ

Greece, United Kingdom

Fiction

Set in the Greek mountain village of Tirna, Bearcave follows Argyro, a badass farmer, and her best friend Anneta, the village “It” girl and local manicurist. Once Anneta admits that she’s pregnant and planning to leave town with her lame cop boyfriend, Argyro challenges Anneta to embark on an adventure to find the mystical bear cave. Before Argyro has a chance to confess her own love, Anneta leaves for her new life in the big city, leaving Argyro broken behind. Meanwhile, in her new home with her clingy mother-in-law, Anneta quickly realises her destiny lies elsewhere.

Written & directed by: Krysianna B. Papadakis, Stergios Dinopoulos
Produced by: Emily Sky Hickin, Stergios Dinopoulos, Krysianna Papadakis, Ishan Sanjay Deshpande, Thanasis Michalopoulos, Arsinoi Pilou
Cinematography: Arsinoi Pilou
Editing: Stergios Dinopoulos, Krysianna B. Papadakis, Vaggelis Katsaros
Production Design: Loukia Limperi Oraiopoulou
Costume Design: Marianthi Christodoulou
Sound: Celia Tsioufi, Nicole Asimosi
Casting: Marianthi Christodoulou, Artemis Koltsida, Anastasia Filippaiou, Chloe Potamiti
Cast: Hara Kyriazi (Argyro), Pamela Oikonomaki (Anneta), Sofia Linospori (Anneta’s mother-in-law), Vaso Gkougkara (Anneta’s grandmother), Lefteris Tsatsis (Argyro’s father)

Statement of the directors:
BEARCAVE, our debut feature, is a genre-blending love odyssey beating with the heart of Balkan mountain folklore.
It shows an unseen perspective on the lives of two queer women in Greece. It explores their relationship through the lens of youth, light and humour, in contrast to the darkness and suffering in the lives of rural queer people we have come to expect.
This film represents a fresh perspective on the process and politics of filmmaking: conceived through grassroots, collectivist approach, in harmony with the “divine feminine” and nature. This is an independent film, shot in the houses of our grandmothers, with a young, women-led team, by a cohort of talented emerging Greek filmmakers.

Production:
Nettle Pie Limited
www.bearcavefilm.com