Athens of Conflict, 1940–1950, the fourth of Maria Iliou’s six documentaries on the history of Athens from 1821 to 2021, tells the story of the city’s darkest period in the 20th century. Drawing on previously unseen visual material (photographs and archival film footage from German, British, American and Greek archives), along with powerful first-hand accounts, music and sounds of the era, the film traces how Athenians displayed remarkable heroism both during the Greek-Italian War and through the famine and the Occupation. After liberation, however, Athens was plunged into a spiral of violent conflict, the Dekemvriana (December 1944 clashes), and the suffering continued with the White Terror and the consequences of the Civil War, which, although fought far from Athens, dramatically affected life in the city. By the end of the decade, Athens was striving to regain its rhythm, and Athenians were hoping for a better tomorrow.
DOCUMENTARY SPONSORS
The Jaharis Family Foundation
The Hatsopoulos Foundation
The Pindaros Foundation
Social and Cultural Affairs Welfare Foundation (KIKPE)
National Bank of Greece
Ioannis F. Costopoulos Foundation
Production: Proteas & Proteus NY Inc
In Greek and English
