The Homecoming

After 35 years working in a factory in Germany, Ilias returns to his almost deserted village and buys a service station on the main street to Ioannina. He wants to make a new start but soon feels like a foreigner again, this time in his own country. His relationship with Eleni, his younger and still beautiful wife, is going though a serious crisis. Eleni, who married him when she was very young to escape the poverty of village life, now feels she is suffocating. She wants to live while there is still time.Their life changes when Ilias saves Petros, a young Albanian illegal immigrant who comes to Greece seeking a better life, from the border guards and hires him in his shop.

Directed by Vasilis Douvlis, The Homecoming leans on a strong ensemble — Arto Apartian, Maria Skoula, Artur Luzi — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2008.