One of contemporary Greek literature’s acclaimed works is heading to the big screen with SWELL, a new feature film directed by Alexandros Voulgaris (The Boy) and based on the celebrated novel by Ioanna Karystiani.
Karystiani, one of Greece’s most acclaimed contemporary writers, wrote the screenplay herself, bringing her novel’s story of isolation, memory, love and life at sea to cinema.
Tanweer Productions and Black Orange produced the film, with Creative Greece (EKKOMED) and Onassis Culture as co-producers, in collaboration with Netflix.
At the centre of SWELL is Captain Mitsos Avgoustis, who has spent 12 years navigating the Pacific Ocean aboard the cargo vessel ATHOS III. The sea has become central to his identity, and he refuses to leave behind the life that has defined him.
Avgoustis has become estranged from his family and remains in constant conflict with his shipping company. Yet he maintains a fierce devotion to the 22 sailors aboard his vessel, whose lives depend on his leadership.
As his journey continues, the boundaries between memory and reality begin to blur. Avgoustis is forced to confront loss, unfinished love and secrets that have continued to shape his life.
The film takes its title from the maritime term “swell”, which describes long, deep ocean waves that continue travelling across the sea long after a storm has passed.
The phenomenon becomes a central metaphor for the film: memories, longing and emotional wounds can continue moving through a person’s life long after the events that created them have ended.
Voulgaris’ adaptation brings Karystiani’s maritime drama from the world of modern Greek literature to the screen, combining a story rooted in the Greek experience with a setting that stretches across the Pacific Ocean.
SWELL stars Vangelis Mourikis, Maria Kavoyianni and Karyofyllia Karabeti, alongside Akyllas Karazisis, Dimitris Kapouranis, Grigoria Groumba, Andreas Votikas, Manolis Mavromatakis and Anthi Efstratiadou.
“Greek cinema, when developed with vision, quality and cultural confidence, can speak powerfully to audiences everywhere. With SWELL, we are proud to begin sharing another distinctly Greek story with audiences around the world through Tanweer Universe.” said Joseph Samaan, President, Tanweer Group.
Tanweer has now unveiled the film’s official teaser trailer and poster, offering the first public glimpse of SWELL ahead of its release.
