Beneath the Olive Tree (2015)

The departure point for this film is a series of notebooks created during the Greek civil war of 1946-49 and first discovered years later, under an olive tree. Inside their pages, diary-like, deported women recount their experiences in Greek concentration camps. Many of them were active in the resistance under Nazi occupation. Actress Olympia Dukakis, who serves as the film’s narrator, was also the individual who originally called director Toska’s attention to the unique documents.

Year: 2015
Genre: Documentary, History
View Beneath the Olive Tree on Amazon Prime

Introduction
"Beneath the Olive Tree" is a 2015 documentary directed by Stavroula Toska. The movie explores the rough duration of the Greek Civil War (1946-1949) and its consequences, focusing mostly on the experiences of females who were on the side of the left. The story is based upon secret journals found below an olive tree in 1982, recounting a powerful chronicle of survival, resistance and strength, shedding light on a closely-guarded chapter in Greek history.

Context and Filmmaking
The Greek Civil War followed on the heels of World War II, a dispute between the communist-led Democratic Army of Greece and the governmental forces supported by the United States. The harsh war ended with massive losses, displacement and the subsequent internment of over 14,000 females and kids in prisoner-of-war camp located on the Greek islands. The movie uses interviews, archival footage, and remarkable analyses to give voice to the long-silenced ladies who experienced these atrocities.

Women's Stories
"Beneath the Olive Tree" reveals the painful accounts of these females who were ostracized, sent to prison, and tortured since of their political beliefs and even suspected affiliations. It commemorates their resistance within the camps, their fight for survival and their wish for a much better future, rooted securely within their dreams of democracy and freedom. The clandestine journals, the primary source material for this movie, were kept in trick, buried, and later on retrieved - functioning as a testament to the females's strength amidst a duration of socially-sanctioned oppression.

Style and Impact
Toska's expedition of these women's battle against political oppression clarifies an aspect of history that has actually been mostly neglected and forgotten. It scrutinizes the way society relegates and casts its 'unwanted aspects' into obscurity, the tremendous isolation caused on those with dissenting voices and the courage it takes to resist political tyranny.

The film inevitably draws parallels between history and the current worldwide political landscape where refugee crises, political repression and human rights abuses are prevalent issues. It functions as a poignant pointer and cautionary tale about the importance of safeguarding democracy, essential freedom, and human dignity. "Beneath the Olive Tree" is a film that champions the strength of the human spirit in the face of oppressive forces.

Conclusion
"Beneath the Olive Tree" is a compelling story that admires the bravery and strength of ladies throughout the Greek Civil War. Despite being set in a particular time period, its styles resonate highly in today's world where struggles against political suppression and oppression continue. Through its individual point of views and revealing histories, the movie supplies a more rounded understanding of a dark time in Greek history that directly affected numerous lives.
The film, with its effective story, has the prospective to motivate ongoing discussions about history, justice and human strength.

Top Cast

Eleni Drivas
Olympia Dukakis