It’s really hard for me to single out just one movie, TV show, or play that had a defining impact on me. I’ll try to write about the first ones that come to mind—the ones that, for one reason or another, left a lasting impression on me.
I’ll start with the 1960s film *Black Girl*, directed by the Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène. A film I’d seen a long time ago and revisited recently to remind myself just how deeply it had moved me—the fact that, in the space of an hour, it so poetically distills the major political and social issues of the era through a very personal story. The story of a young woman who leaves her homeland in search of a better life, only to ultimately face alienation, loneliness, and racial inequality. These are utterly timeless issues that, unfortunately, are not confined to the era in which the film was made. Beyond Missine Therese Diop’s stunningly understated performance (in her film debut), what moves me most about this film is the way it ultimately speaks to dignity. For a person who has had almost everything taken away from them, except for the ability to choose whether they want to continue living. If you haven’t seen the movie, I recommend it as a silent cry that has left a lasting impression on me.
One of the standout series of recent years (and as I write and delete my thoughts on *Unorthodox*, *Chernobyl*, and *Maid*), I ultimately settle on… *Ethos*. Through the psychotherapy sessions of a deeply religious woman living in Istanbul, we meet various characters from different backgrounds, connected by their individual fears and prejudices. What won me over was the human and realistic way the characters are portrayed, as well as the calm, unembellished narrative, which allowed me to focus on the depth of the characters. I remember it lingering in my mind for days after I saw it.
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Now, when it comes to a play that stood out to me and left a lasting impression, it’s really, really hard to decide which one to write about…
I’ll write about a play that premiered in Thessaloniki in 2018 and had me giving a standing ovation at the end that wouldn’t stop. I don’t know if it shaped me artistically, but it certainly stirred something within me on a human level. I can’t recall any other performance that has made me watch it with such absolute humility, completely setting aside any role I might have as an actor or director. It is “Horses in Love” by the “En Dynami” theater group, directed by Eleni Efthymiu. Through true stories and personal testimonies, people with and without disabilities shared the stage, profoundly challenging any preconceived notions we might have about difference. Without resorting to easy melodramatic tropes of “pity” or “admiration” for the people on stage, the performance presented love as a human need for everyone, without exception. What I take away from this performance is that, without preaching to me, it forced me to examine some of my own certainties and redefine them. Yes. This is a play that managed to make me look at the world a little differently.
And I’ll stop here. Because I promised myself I’d talk ONLY about one movie, one TV series, and one play—and that I wouldn’t write or delete anything again. I hope we can read more books, watch more movies and TV shows, and come check out the theater! We’re waiting for you with plays that might change your life—or maybe not—but at least give them a chance to tell you what they have to say. There are remarkable stories out there looking for an audience to engage with!
