The Cinematheque

Cyprus

After being fired from her job as a children’s television host for having an inadequate social media following, eccentric Smaragda (Niovi Charalambous) moves into her recently deceased mother’s house and takes a job at a nearby resort. Emilios Avraam describes his debut as a ​“midlife coming-of-age film” that avoids characterizing its protagonist in terms of crisis: the brightly coloured production design and dreamy cinematography evoke Smaragda’s irrepressible free spirit in a world that’s rarely hospitable to it. The film tackles today’s thorniest questions—climate change, online performativity, financial pressure—with humour and determination; the title comes from Smaragda’s self-comparison to the sturdy, self-confident elephant.

In Greek with English subtitles

Best Cypriot Film, Best Performance (Niovi Charalambous)
Cyprus Film Days 2025