San Diego native Rea Xenitopoulos traded the Californian sun to explore the raw authenticity of her Greek roots in Melbourne, Victoria. The young filmmaker, with a keen eye for social issues, delves deep into her heritage to craft her latest project, Agorokoritso (Tomboy).
The film – created while Rea pursues her Master of Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne – promises to be a poignant exploration of identity, culture, and the complexities of life.
“Through this story, I hope to reach audiences who have struggled with similar issues, whether it’s conforming to gender norms or grappling with their identity in any way,” Rea tells The Greek Herald.
“It’s a deeply personal story, rooted in my own experiences growing up in a Greek household. While it wasn’t a traditional household, I did struggle with identity amidst cultural expectations. I hope to connect with people who’ve faced similar challenges.”
Her connection to her Greek heritage is a cornerstone of her work. Both of Rea’s parents hail from Thessaloniki, Greece, and though she was raised in the mainstream culture of San Diego, Greek was her first language at home.
“We lived in a multi-generational household,” Rea explains.
“My grandparents immigrated to the US to help raise my sister and me. So, while there were traditional aspects, our lives were also quite modern due to the times and our location.”
Despite growing up in a relatively open-minded environment, Rea faced challenges embracing her true self.
“There was a bit of a struggle when I opened up about myself, even just in my own house,” she admits.
“But my mom supports me more than anybody in the world, and my grandma, surprisingly, too. She’s from a very traditional background, but her mindset is ‘love trumps all’.”
In her film, Rea has woven elements of her personal journey with her cultural background and the influence of her grandmother Rea, whom she was named after and greatly admires.
“I’ve really just used my identity journey as one point of the story, my Greek heritage as a different point, and then paid homage to my beloved grandmother through the character of yiayia Vassoula,” Rea says.
To find a yiayia for the film, Rea turned to Facebook.
“Many people expressed interest, even a pappou, but I eventually found Ioanna Antonopoulos,” she explains.
79-year-old Ioanna shares, “I wanted to participate because the film is patriotic and embodies strong family values that resonate with everyone.”
Desiree Katakis portrays Maggie, the 14-year-old protagonist grappling with identity and the rigid gender norms and cultural expectations of her Greek Australian home. She finds an unexpected ally in her friend, Claire (played by Natiya Ioannidis), though Rea intentionally leaves their relationship open to interpretation. The cast is competed by Ioanna Gagani in the role of Stella.
Maggie, the lead, says, “It was refreshing to be part of an all-Greek cast telling a story about the complexities within Greek family relationships. I can’t wait to see the film’s impact.”
Rea emphasises that casting an entirely Greek cast was intentional.
“The script includes substantial Greek dialogue, so I needed native speakers,” she adds.
Rea’s passion for storytelling extends beyond this project. While Agorokoritso is her directorial debut, her ultimate goal is to become a filmmaker.
“Every project I’ve worked on centres around women, people of colour, and social issues,” she states.
“These are the themes I’ll continue to explore in my career because I believe it’s crucial to shed light on these topics. Social issues are a recurring thread in my artistic pursuits.”
Rea’s dedication to representing her heritage and addressing social issues through film underscores her commitment to creating meaningful art. As she builds her career, she aims to challenge narrow-mindedness and foster understanding.
“It’s disheartening to witness the sometimes narrow-minded views within my own cultural community,” she reflects.
“But I believe it’s essential for people within those communities to speak up and tell their stories. We need to work from within to show that these issues also exist within our own community.”
Once completed, Rea hopes to share the film on the festival circuit.
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