In 2022, Salamiou in Cyprus hosted the Cyprus Rural Animation Film Festival. This is a tranquil little village, similar to many border towns in China, where most young people have moved to the big cities to seek work, leaving behind elderly residents and others who require care. Vrionis, the village secretary and one of the few young people left in the village, was in charge of hosting the first resident artist who arrived for the festival. The artist, intrigued by everything here, was often taken on tours by Vrionis around the village. Through the artist's lens, the film captures the endless, recurring local Cypriot scenery and way of life. The simple and calm narrative depicts the ordinary people and everyday events in this small village.
One day, while the artist, as usual, sought out Vrionis for another trip of inspiration, they accidentally caught a glimpse of Vrionis’ family life. Vrionis and his mother carefully care for his sister, who has an intellectual disability. Through this, the artist directly witnessed the realities of families caring for people with intellectual disabilities, gaining insight into the pressures and struggles they face. In the footage, we see a genuine portrayal of reality—through subtle details and quiet moments, tender warmth and deep familial bonds shine through.
Due to the language barrier, the artist wasn’t aware of the full content of the conversations they captured. It wasn’t until after returning home and editing the material with the help of translation that they were delighted to learn of a shepherd boy’s childhood stories, the elders’ agricultural lives, the villagers’ complaints… and that Vrionis had quietly fallen in love with the artist.
Salamiou reflects. It reflects the life choices of Vrionis, who might have otherwise left for the city. Salamiou reflects the distant Chinese countryside, where smoke from village kitchens rises in calm. Salamiou reflects each unhurried morning and evening, needing no cultivation.
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