The Flower of the Lake

1900, Kastoria, Western Macedonia. Greeks, Turks, Jews, and other nationalities live together under the Ottoman Empire, amid the despair, instability, and confusion brought about by the Greco-Turkish War of 1897. Under these circumstances, a family of fishermen on Lake Kastoria, a fisherman, his wife, his grandfather, and their five children try to make a living. The daughter works in the fur trade, the younger son attends Greek school, while the older son, Christos, helps his father with the fishing. The flower that emerges from the lake is personified in the film's main character, Christos. Every morning, when the sky and the water in the lake become one with the mist, Christos casts his nets... This apparent tranquility in Christos' life is disrupted by his encounter with a wounded rebel, abandoned by his comrades.

Directed by Stamatis Tsarouchas, The Flower of the Lake leans on a strong ensemble — Lakis Komninos, Vangelis Mourikis, Katerina Moutsatsou — 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 1999.