Kristos The Last Child – GIFFT Ottawa

Kristos The Last Child – GIFFT Ottawa

Of the thirty-one inhabitants of Arki, a windswept island in Greece’s Dodecanese, Kristos is the last remaining child. He is ten, and he is the only pupil of his teacher Maria, who devotes herself to him. Kristos will begin his final year of elementary school soon. To finish compulsory education, he needs to leave Arki and move to a larger island. However, his family cannot afford this expense and his father has different plans for him. He wants to teach him to become a shepherd, a profession passed down the family for generations. Maria cannot accept this situation. She believes that her student has the right to choose his future like all the other children in Greece and is determined to find a solution to further his education. Will Kristos stay on the island to become a shepherd like his brothers or will he leave Arki to continue his education far away, on the other side of the sea?

Director: Guilia Amati

Duration: 1:28′

This screening includes short film:

Golden Fingers

In 1960s rural Greece, a 6-year-old gypsy boy battles school bullies, an abusive father, and a deeply racist society. As an outcast from a destitute family, his dream of becoming a musician seems impossible. Yet, this young boy will stop at nothing to overcome the obstacles and fulfil his dream of becoming one of the world’s finest clarinet soloists. Based on a true story.

Director: Fivos Kontogiannis

Duration: 0:15′