Feature debut by director Georgis Grigorakis, titled Digger, takes part in the International Competition section of the 61st Thessaloniki International Film Festival, revealing a genuine and pure talent of Greek contemporary cinema

Georgis Grigorakis studied Social Psychology in England, and went on to have his postgraduate studies in Film Directing at the National School of Film & TV School in London. Since 2007, he has written and directed short films, which have been screened at more than 100 international film festivals, having won more 20 awards. Digger, his first feature film, celebrated its premiere at the Berlinale, where it was bestowed with the Art Cinema – CICAE Award, whereas the leading man Vangelis Mourikis was awarded with the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actor, at the Sarajevo Film Festival.

The director describes Digger as a modern-day western that focuses on the clash-reconciliation between father and son, as well as on the fraught relationship between man and nature. “A hermit father and a long-lost son, appearing out of nowhere. A cabin house in the middle of an ancestral mountainous forest. An industrial beast that expands voraciously and aggressively into the forest’s heart. All around them a society in civil-war mood. Some dig to uproot and destroy, others dig to trace their roots. A father-son frontal clash. The forest, a key factor in the plot, offers the final solution,” mentions Georgis Grigorakis.

Digger is a film of stunning maturity, combining a series of crystal-clear virtues: mystical ambience, well balanced humor, wise use of allegoric symbolisms, smoothly orchestrated moments of emotional climax, as well as a remarkable feeling of a distant yet powerful tempo – like a buzz tuning into your head. The strongest ace up Georgis Grigorakis’ sleeve, though, was no other than Vangelis Mourikis, in yet another brilliant interpretation, matched up by a wonderful performance by Argyris Pantazaras. Georgis Grigorakis shares his thoughts: “It is rather obvious why a director would pick Mourikis for the lead part. His stature as an actor is one-of-a-kind. The story was written having Vangelis in mind, and there would be no film without him. The casting of the son was tricky, as he should hit it off with Vangelis at many levels. At first, we looked for an actor at his 20s, but the role grew gradually older, making Argyris the best choice for us.”

Digger includes a series of impressive and demanding scenes that unfold at the untamed landscape of a wild forest, giving the impression that the movie’s shooting was a real challenge for everyone involved. The director corroborates this impression: “At an altitude of 1,200 meters. Morning fog in the woods. Biting cold. Rain. Snow falling. Landslides. Giant excavators. Explosions in mines. Suffocating dust. Everyone wound-up and on edge. Remarkable actors playing their hearts out. Too little time, too much fatigue. A production team made up super heroes. The finest of partners. Walking on moving sand.”

As in the case of all Greek filmmakers, it is nothing less than an adventure to set up a debut feature film, a process that includes countless setbacks and unimaginable difficulties. “One of the toughest stages of a debut feature is the script development coupled with the struggle to wrap up the film’s funding. I was very lucky to have the support of Haos Film throughout this five-year journey. Athina Rachel Tsangari, our main producer, as well as Christos V. Konstantakopoulos and Fenia Cossovitsa, were among the most memorable and pleasant surprises I ever encountered. Each on his/her own way, they are fundamental figures as to the growth of contemporary Greek cinema.”