Xenia (2014)

Strangers in their own birthplace, 16-year-old Danny and 18-year-old Odysseus cross the entire country in search of their Greek father, after their Albanian mother passes away.

Director:

Panos H. Koutras

Writers:

Panos H. Koutras, Panagiotis Evangelidis

Stars:

Kostas Nikouli, Nikos Gelia, Yannis Stankoglou

10 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Kostas Nikouli	...	Dany
Nikos Gelia	...	Odysseas (as Nikos Gkelia)
Yannis Stankoglou	...	Lefteris (as Giannis Stankoglou)
Marisha Triantafyllidou	...	Vivi (as Marissa Triantafyllidou)
Romanna Lobach	...	Maria-Sonia (as Romana Lompats)
Aggelos Papadimitriou	...	Tasos
Mohamed Alhanini	...	Achmat
Ioulios Tziatas	...	Moustafa
Electra Leda Koutra	...	Dikigoros (Antigone, Ody's lawyer) (as Electra-Leda Koutra)
Konstantinos Georgopoulos	...	Stefanos
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Petros Chytiris	...	Ricardo, Patty Pravo's Chauffeur
Dido	...	Dido
Maria Laina	...	Junkie Ballerina
Vali Mavridi	...	Floor Manager
Patty Pravo	...	Patty Pravo

Storyline

Strangers in their own birthplace, 16-year-old Danny and 18-year-old Odysseus cross the entire country in search of their Greek father, after their Albanian mother passes away. Determined to force him to acknowledge paternity, little do they know that the road to the much-coveted Greek citizenship is paved with ghosts from the past, adult savagery and a dream that needs to come true, no matter what. Reaching the end of this initiatory journey they eventually come of age even if Greece refuses to follow.

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Plot Keywords:

male frontal nudity | greece | gay | gay kiss | male nudity | 

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Taglines:

A New Greek Odyssey

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Greece France Belgium

Language:

Greek Albanian Italian

Release Date:

18 June 2014 (France)

Also Known As:

Ксения

Filming Locations:

Kozani, Greece

Box Office

Budget:

€1,500 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$358, 11 October 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,181, 6 December 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

100% Synthetic Films, Wrong Men, Movie Partners In Motion Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Among the CD that Odysseas (Ody) is searching in the closet at the rooftop are Stereo Nova - Discolata (1993) and Trypes - Mesa Sth Nyxta ton Allon (1999).

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Connections

References Sailor Moon (1995)

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Soundtracks

Sentimento
Written by Franco Migliacci, Piero Pintucci and Ruggero Cini
Produced by Ruggero Cini
Sung by Patty Pravo
(1968)

User Reviews

Beautiful and Endearing Greek Film

Dany and Ody are brothers who have not seen each other for a while. Then Dany turns up in Piraeus to tell Ody that their flamboyant Albanian mother has dies and that they need to find their estranged Greek father – and to enter Ody in 'Greek Star' – a talent show of all talent shows. Oh yes and to get Greek citizenship and thus avoid being deported.

So begins the odyssey and it is necessary to point out that Dany is gay and fairly extrovert and the film takes a few minutes to warm up and I implore you to stay with it – you will be well rewarded. It has surreal moments to including one with a big bunny rabbit – but 'Donnie Darko' this ain't.

The enthusiasm for the characters and the care in which they are played shines through the screen. There is also a plethora of supporting players and I loved nearly all of them. Plus we get some great song and dance routines and a soundtrack that makes you want to get up and join in. I simply adored this film it left me in a great mood and I was miffed when it ended such is the fun of this journey. If you do not mind a bit of surrealism and can still believe in dreams or you just want a great loving film then this is one you will not wish to miss.