Described as an “off-season seaside noir,” the Greek feature film Sea of Glass tells the story of 65 year-old Vangelio as she escapes her prison of domestic abuse and embarks on a journey for freedom. She meets 23 year-old Vicky — played by Christiana Matelska Toka — as they find companionship within each other in a world that has shown them relentless hostility. Diving into themes of domestic abuse, helplessness, and entrapment, Sea of Glass also shows the wonders of human companionship, the healing power of nature, and the breaking of cycles. I had the pleasure to speak with Director Alexis Alexiou, writer Aphroditi Nikolaidou, and main actress Evangelia Adreadaki as Sea of Glass was debuting in the EIFF.
Aphroditi explained that the story of Vangelio and Vicky is one derived from “the hundred stories of women of domestic violence” as well as a combination of personal experiences from both the writer and director. Alexis joined in explaining “the story of the boy who was at the back of the car […] and then the father kicked the boy out of the car and left him in the middle of the street. That was me.” Sea of Glass is a deeply intimate story to both the creators and the audience that gets to experience it, and this heart does not go unnoticed. Apart from taking inspiration in a more biographical sense, Alexis and Aphroditi also turned their eyes to classic road trip and noir movies, citing Thelma and Louise (1991) as well as The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) as important inspirations to the making of their film.
Turning to Evangelia, I wondered how she connected to her character, a woman who, for sizable parts of the film recides in silence. “Well, I think all our behaviour,” she said, “it’s really not speaking all the time. I mean, it’s like feeling and responding to the environment.” Her character is subject to domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, who is bed-ridden and in her care, a situation Evangelia researched as to how to portray by speaking to women “who had experience of domestic violence with their husbands.” She adds that “they forgot and they live out their own expectations of life and what they wanted to achieve in her life.” Through this, the actress portrayed her character’s journey as she goes through and out of this, and “makes things differently” for herself.
As the name betrays, the sea is a crucial element of this film, surpassing its status as mere setting and becoming a character itself in the narrative of these two women. Pointing at their Greek heritage, Aphroditi explained how “the sea is a very crucial part of Greek culture and of Greek iconography,” one that surpasses touristic depictions of it. “It encapsulates many different feelings like the fear, the love, the companionship and freedom.” Diving into the very meaning of the film’s title, Aphroditi pointed at the juxtaposition that exists within the phrase “sea of glass”: it serves as a beautiful mirage as well as a dangerous territory if this glass were broken. It is a mirror into which we can see ourselves–something that is not always easy.
Going into the environment that was created during the filming and production process of the film, I wanted to know how Evangelia and Christina had found the process of filming, at times, very emotionally-demanding scenes. Evangelia explained that her and Christina had built a bond off-screen by getting to know each other by going to the swimming pool, as well as working alongside Alexis on the script.
As for one of the film’s most striking characteristics, Aphroditi dived into the process that was location scouting. Both her and Alexei knew the area in which Sea of Glass was filmed for decades, and they both expressed how crucial the spaces in which the film was set were. “Because the location, the space, and the people are the same,” explained Aphroditi. Still, Alexei touched on one of their biggest set-backs while filming: weather. One of the most moving scenes happens at the very end of the film, when the characters (and audience) are waiting for a heavy storm that has been reported to hit the shores any moment now. The film makes use of a heavily agitated sea to show us a world-shattering decision that needs to be made. Yet, Alexei explained how this was a “nightmare” to film, as the production team had to do daily weather checks in order to make this culminating scene come to fruition. After several attempts, they were able to get the weather just right, and it served for the film’s most cathartic sequence.
Sea of Glass was my favorite film that I got to watch in the EIFF this year. Its rawness and heart moved me to the point of tears. Apart from its thematic depth, this film’s complete use of nature’s elements makes it so that an already heartwrenching storyline is accompanied by the breath-taking views of the Greek sea. It was a pleasure to speak to the minds that were behind this project.
Stills provided for Sea of Glass Press Release.
