Sydney-based TV director, Kay Pavlou, hosted two sell-out screenings of her film ‘TWO HOMELANDS’ at Melbourne’s Thornbury Picture House on February 15th and 16th, followed by vigorous Q&As.
‘TWO HOMELANDS’ is focused on six Australian Greek Cypriots – aged 70 to 102 – who give emotional eyewitness accounts of the 1974 Turkish invasion and their migration to Australia.
Thornbury Picture House is in Northcote, in the electorate of State Labor MP Kat Theophanous. Of Cypriot heritage, Ms Theophanous gave a passionate introduction.
“This documentary is a love letter to our beautiful island of Cyprus, blending rare archival footage with deeply personal reflections. It captures the very essence to be Cypriot in the diaspora. It brings to life experiences of our people in a way that ensures their voices are heard, their pain is acknowledged and their resilience is celebrated,” Ms Theophanous said.
“These stories are part of who we are, part of our collective identity… our experience of invasion, migration and the quiet endurance of loss.”
Refugees in the audience were triggered into visceral flashbacks of the fear and uncertainty of having to escape the invasion and find safety.
“Kay has captured with great poignancy the bittersweet life of the Cypriot refugee. The heart wrenching loss of a beloved homeland and the warm embrace of Australia,” Elly Symons, Australian Parthenon Committee Vice President, said.
Ms Pavlou said she “searched high and low for archives from Cyprus, UK and US, and wove them seamlessly into the personal stories to tell the wider story of Cyprus”
“It’s essential that we have access to our archives to be about to tell our stories. Then, as a bonus, I found 1940s black and white footage to give a sense of nostalgia of a bygone era that remains in the memory of the older generations and the stories told to the young,” Ms Pavlou added.
Chrysa Papastavrou, a high school teacher, said she was “brought to tears by those black and white images as they took me to mother’s world before she became an immigrant in 1961.”
“It brought alive old conversations that I had heard all my childhood. Those people on the screen spoke to my heart as they depicted every grandparent and descendent who wept, sang and walked proud, despite the hardships and toil,” Ms Papastavrou said.
John Christou, President of the Greek Cypriot Community of the Northern Suburbs, said, “the film took us all back to the period of the older people in the film. I’m too young to remember those times, but I got very emotional.”
Some were enthused to make group bookings. Nola Radiotis brought seven members of her Anemones Ladies Group.
“We found it informative, hearing people’s perspective and their love for both homelands was very touching. We all shed tears, but surprisingly at times it was also funny,” Ms Radiotis said.
Paul Pavlou, unrelated to the director, said he “booked tickets for seven members of my family. It’s not just us. Our children are as interested in our Cypriot heritage as we are.”
Youth were well represented in the audience. Christian Evripidou, co-owner of local Thornbury bar, Capers, said, “TWO HOMELANDS handled a complex issue with impressive balance, explaining the history fairly, while inspiring hope for a unified future. My younger generation has not given up. We strive for a solution; we meet regularly both here and in Cyprus and we support our Turkish Cypriot friends. The film can help thought-provoking dialogue, to bring us together and move forward.”
Theo Theophanous, President of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria agreed, “we need to work more closely with Turkish Cypriots.”
To conclude, Ms Pavlou said, “As a storyteller, I aim to inspire lively dialogue and discussion. It was a pleasure to host my film to Melbourne’s vibrant community – with three community centres across the city and such a broad demographic.”
Copies of ‘TWO HOMELANDS’ can be bought/hired here.
