Letters and papers from prison during the 1967 – 1974 dictatorship in Greece (Working title) (in development)

Logline

In the wake of the 1974 dictatorship’s fall, a young man discovers letters from his imprisoned grandfather. As he delves into his family’s past , he seeks to understand the true impact of tyranny and asks: What does democracy mean in a world still marked by the the scars of oppression?

Synopsis

The narrative begins with the fall of the dictatorship in July 1974: the celebrations for democracy, the return of political exiles, and the release of political prisoners from jails.

The protagonist of our story is a young person of today whose grandfather was imprisoned and tortured during the dictatorship. Living in the present, 50 years after the restoration of democracy, he discovers some of the letters his ancestor sent to his children and wife back in 1971. This discovery prompts him to unravel the thread of a story that, until now, has been largely unknown to him. He seeks to answer a question that is both personal and collective, historical yet deeply experiential: What was the dictatorship, really? What did it mean for those who were persecuted? What mark did it leave on their lives and souls, as well as on their children?

Aiding and engaging with him in this exploration are those from the first generation who are still alive, their children—the second generation—alongside scientists and experts. Together, they will contribute a wealth of material to shed light on the young 25-year-old’s question: What was the dictatorship, really? And they will give meaning to the political imperative: Why must democracy and our precious rights never again be overthrown?