Police banned public gatherings on Tuesday due to concerns about a rally to protest the documentary “Aδέσποτα Σώματα” – “Wandering Bodies”, which was shown on the evening of March 12 in Thessaloniki.
“Αδέσποτα Σώματα” is a documentary film by Elina Psiku that explores “body autonomy and women’s rights.”
The film tells the story of three women and, according to the brief description, is a documentary in the form of a road movie. His heroines travel through an increasingly conservative Europe, demanding nothing less than autonomy and self-determination of their bodies. Their journey is unbearably serious and hopelessly funny, their demands urgent, their rebuttals flimsy but often resonant, and their outcome ambiguous.
The film’s poster shows a pregnant woman wearing a headscarf and loincloth and being nailed to a cross.
The poster sparked fury among Greek Christians. Metropolitan of Thessaloniki and a group called United Macedonians, which called on social media for a protest outside the Olympion cinema in Aristotelous Square in the city center, scheduled to start at 7 pm on Tuesday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h08wgxvdgDA
In a letter to festival director Elisa Zalandos, Metropolitan Philotheus of Thessaloniki asked not to show the posterbecause “it is deeply provocative to the religious feelings of the city’s Christians.”
Festival director Zalandos rejected Filofei’s request in a letter which reads, in part: “I understand that the promotional poster for the film “Wandering Bodies” may express views contrary to yours. I am sure that the same can be said about other works of art displayed in cinemas, on television, in art galleries and museums. But I “I also see works that I do not like and hear opinions contrary to my own. But in no case can I demand their ban or withdrawal, because this is contrary to the rule of law.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm_GhguN7E4
She invited the Metropolitan to today’s show: “We invite you to the screening to see for yourself that this documentary is driven by the creator’s desire to capture the suffering of people who suffer due to restrictions on freedom. As a woman, a mother and a worker, I also observe with alarm that the world in 2024, seems to be going backwards. Violence, attacks on women, femicide are constantly on the rise. Attacks on the weak and inferior are also on the rise. […]
Authoritarian regimes that restrict freedom, violate basic human rights and challenge the concept of democracy are also on the rise. Democracy is a wonderful institution that invites us to coexist with people whose views may differ from ours. If these opinions do not promote hatred and do not call for illegal actions, if they do not threaten the fundamental principles of freedom and democracy, and do not violate existing laws, then we must listen to them in the context of a society of acceptance and love.”wrote the festival director.
She also mentioned “a horrifying and unprecedented incident” in Aristotelis Square last Saturday, when a crowd of 150-200 people stalked and attacked a transgender couple.
The incident on Saturday, as well as a verbal attack on Syriza leader Stefanos Kasselakis a day later, also led police to ban the Christian rally.
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