Xenia

Danny’s mother is dead. She died last week, a combination of the drugs and alcohol ultimately taking her life. Orphaned, the 16-year-old Albanian comes knocking on his older brother Odysseus’ door with a foolproof plan. The two are going to find “The Unspeakable” (their biological father) and forcibly coax him into paying a child abandonment fee. Foolproof plan part 2: Odysseus is going to win the “Greek Star” talent show, thanks to his gilded voice. But there’s a problem… okay, there are lots of problems. First, Danny and Odysseus are hiding their nationality in a Greece increasingly riddled with anti-Albanian violence. Second, Danny’s splashy flashes of flamboyance make it difficult for the two to blend in. Third, did we mention their plan involves burglary and extortion? There simply aren’t enough words to describe XENIA, a remarkable comedy-drama-adventure that manages to be funny, sad, exciting, and surreal virtually in the same breath. With two breakout leads and assured direction from a veteran filmmaker, XENIA is pure escapism. (In Greek, Albanian, and Italian with subtitles) – C.P.