JOY

HARA

By Elias GIANNAKAKIS

ARRAS FILM FESTIVAL - as FEST

Drama - Completed 2012

A woman kidnaps a baby...when "justice" becomes injustice.

    • Year of production
    • 2012
    • Genres
    • Drama
    • Countries
    • GREECE
    • Languages
    • GREEK
    • Duration
    • 85 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Elias GIANNAKAKIS
    • Writer(s)
    • Elias GIANNAKAKIS
    • Producer(s)
    • Eleni BERTES (Logline films essentials)
    • Synopsis
    • Hara (the Greek name for ‘Joy’), aged 45 - 47, snatches a baby from a maternity ward and walks away unnoticed. When the police mobilize to apprehend her, she does not attempt to hide or escape; she is unperturbed by the radio and television programs which are flooded with news of the kidnapping.
      Hara spends two days with the baby, whom she appears to cherish as her own. Her happiness is evident. When the two go on a day-trip, they cross paths with a felon. He realizes who Hara is and ambushes her to abduct the infant and sell it. They engage in ferocious struggle, during which Hara kills the man.
      After her arrest, and regardless of an impending life sentence, she refuses to speak. She even refuses to speak to the lawyer the court has appointed to defend her. When her trial begins, she remains silent throughout all the proceedings. It is only in the solitude of her cell that Hara feels free to open up and speak. She “talks” to the baby, she makes ironic comments about the trial and she sings.