Meridian
Date:
December 28, 2024
Meridian
Meridian
by Markela Kontaratou
Sonder Films | Greece
Coda Films | Greece
Gothic drama
Logline
Marina, a lignite miner, lives with her sister Elina in the desolate village of Meridian, where lignite is worshipped as a deity. When a mysterious explosion seals the mine, her identity, her relationship with her sister and her faith are tested.
Synopsis
Meridian is inspired by real communities in Northern Greece, suffering the effects of lignite mining and eventual delignitisation. In the film’s universe, lignite is worshipped as a deity, and the miners are considered martyrs at the altar of its extraction.
Marina, a miner living under bleak conditions in the isolated village of Meridian, hides her health issues from her sister Elina, who, being pregnant and very religious, tries to find hope in the life she carries within her. One evening, a mysterious light falls from the sky near the mine. The sisters, along with Marina’s colleague, Ahmed, and other villagers, gather near the mine to investigate the strange phenomenon, which remains unexplained. Soon, the workers are told that the mine will be permanently sealed. This inexplicable development causes outrage amongst the workers.
Marina tries to cope with the loss of her job, which leads to questioning her identity, while being plagued by strange nightmares. At the same time, Elina devotes herself even more to religion and tries to maintain hope for the future. The conflict between the sisters is exacerbated by the arrival of a group of foreign “lignite pilgrims”, who, in search of a miracle, approach the sisters. Elina welcomes them, drawing hope from their faith, while Marina, whose faith is beginning to waver, treats them with suspicion. Their arrival will make the clash between Marina and Elina inevitable.
Author’s Note
Welcome to Meridian: a world where harsh reality and the supernatural coexist, creating a parallel universe not too different from our own.
Meridian is inspired by the villages near Kozani, where lignite mining became the main source of income but caused pollution, diseases, and the displacement of villages. Paradoxically, the locals resist to accept the end of the lignite era. This forms the central theme of Meridian: relying so heavily on something that irreparably harms you. In the story, the characters see the end of the lignite era as the death of God, exploring how the loss of belonging can be experienced as a metaphysical, revelatory experience.
The character of Marina reflects my own experience working on set as a lighting technician, in a male-dominated field, often pushing my body to its limits by excessive strain. But, like Marina, I often gain satisfaction and purpose from this exhaustion, which also contains an aspect of physical dependance on the very labour.
Through the relationship of the sisters, which moves from one of dependence and routine to one of distance and implicit understanding through acceptance of their differences, the evolution of family ties through crises is examined, as well as my own relationship with my sister.
The original themes and carefully selected visual elements of Meridian will create a delirious and unique world, with the aim of telling a story of mourning, faith, survival, transcendence and inner rebirth.
Company Profile
Sonder films is the newly established production label of film producer Manos Tzivakis (Sarajevo Talents 2023, Oxbelly 2022, APostLab 2021). His credits include short films by emerging filmmakers such as Love you more than Peanut Butter by Ariadni Angeliki Thyphronitou Litou (nominated for the Hellenic Film Academy’s IRIS Awards, awarded twice at the 45th Drama Film Festival and), ” The first setting Sun of Summer” by Asteris Tziolas (IN THE PALACE, awarded twice at the 46th Drama Festival). Sonder is currently developing a slate of films by Markela Kontaratou, Ioanna Digenaki, Ioanna Tsilili and Jacques Simha.
Coda Films is the Athens-based production company of Kyriaki Kontaratou. She has produced the short films “Scorched Earth” by Markela Kontaratou (Pardi Di Domani, 76th Locarno Film Festival), “No Future Kids” by Eleni Poulopoulou (awarded twice at 47th Drama ISFF) and “Kelsey” by Yorgos Sakarellos (nominated at the Thessaloniki ISFF 2024). She is Executive Producer for Efi Spyrou’s films “Womanifesto” (Best Experimental Film Award in Los Angeles Best Film Awards 2024, nominated at On Art Poland FF and San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival) and “Between Water and Roof: Black Stories”, by Efi Spyrou (in post-production).