Two years following his receipt of the Honorary Golden Alexander Award, esteemed Greek documentarian Stavros Psillakis is back at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival with a new film titled “Sculpted Souls.” This movie delves into the history of Hansenites – people afflicted by Hansen’s disease (commonly known as leprosy) – through the tale of Swiss dentist Julien Grivel, who provided free treatment for nearly three decades to patients suffering from this condition.
Before the grand unveiling of the film, I had the pleasure of conversing with EbMaster, a man whose words in “Greece, My Ithaca” struck a chord within me. Upon my first read, I felt an irresistible urge to connect with this remarkable dentist. As our interaction unfolded, he effortlessly captivated me. Intrigued and inspired, I embarked on the filmmaking journey even before securing the necessary funding. The magical island of Crete served as our setting for a two-week shoot in September of 2023. The following year was spent meticulously piecing together the freshly captured footage and archival material that would illuminate the lives of the Hansenites living in Greece during the 70s and 80s.
The film’s director explains his initial motivation: “Rather than creating another movie about leprosy and its past in Greece, I felt drawn to explore the man behind Julien. Who was this person who dared to confront so many risks at just 29, treating Hansen’s disease in Greece? What drove him? What was his personal journey?
He emphasizes that his focus is primarily on creating compelling cinema, which captivates him the most. He believes it’s not the topics that elevate films, but rather the unique perspectives we bring to them. His goal is for our movie to be experienced as a fictional tale with authentic characters,” he finishes.
The director’s films often feature a recurring theme, which is an exploration of individuals rather than specific subjects (with over 40 films to his credit). He doesn’t create movies about topics but about people who resonate with him and are open to embarking on a journey through the landscape of their souls. It’s hard for him to explain how he selects a person, just as it can be difficult to understand why one falls in love with someone. This film came to be because he encountered Julien. If they had met ten years earlier, the film would have been quite different.
After devoting four decades to his craft, one might wonder what continues to drive this filmmaker? “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he admits sincerely. “I find joy in this, it keeps my creativity vibrant. I inhabit a world of my own and frequently feel moved by the beauty of life. My mind is constantly immersed in work and musing over ideas. As a director once said, he works tirelessly so that death won’t catch him unawares. Similarly, I strive to fill my life with purpose, ensuring that there’s no room for death to intrude.
As a movie enthusiast, I’m always thrilled by the intricate formal and stylistic puzzles that filmmaking presents. Reflecting on my directorial journey, I vividly recall the genesis of an idea – to interweave scenes of Julien strolling along his preferred beach, coincidentally located in the very region where I was raised. “We ventured there,” I recollect, “and the weather was simply divine, the sea serene, everything fell perfectly into place.” It was during this trip that we conceived the notion of revisiting this beach as his sanctuary, a decision pivotal for the overall narrative framework and something we discovered in the editing process.
About presenting “Sculpted Souls” in Thessaloniki, Psillakis expresses his great joy at returning to his “most cherished film festival”. This screening will be a special moment for him as it will be the first time the entire cast and crew will view the movie on the big screen. Despite his experience, he admits that this event still causes him some apprehension. He hopes that the film will live up to the recognition he has received at the festival and the eagerness and affection of the viewers and friends who are eagerly waiting to see it.
The production titled “Sculpted Souls” was created by the Cretan Cultural Organization, in collaboration with Cosmote TV and Ohmydog Productions. It is Ohmydog Productions who takes care of international distribution.
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2025-03-12 18:49