APEKE

A documentary about the National Greek Minority living in Albania, this is the first film ever to be made on this subject. Through the poetry, legends, music and polyphonic songs of Northern Epirus, the film traces the history of «apeke» Hellenism (Greeks living «on the other side») from antiquity to the present day. It is a chronicle of the struggle waged to preserve the Greek language and Orthodox religion, as well as of the harsh present-day reality of the desolate homesteads, left behind by the young people who have all fled to Greece. Filming began in 1991 and ended in 2000, and took place in all parts of Albania where there is a Greek minority (Gjirokaster, Delvine, Sarande, Himare, etc.), during different seasons of the year and under extremely adverse conditions due to the lack of roads, accomodation and, above all, safety.