A Greek Winter

Tasos Pafralides and his sister Evdokia run a small gas station in Thessaloniki. In the wintertime, they also supply fuel oil to many of the apartment buildings and houses in the city. But the deepening economic crisis in Greece means more and more people are unable to pay for the oil. follows Tasos as he goes about his work in the city. He has to listen to many tales of woe about rising taxes and corrupt politicians, and to pleas for deferred payment. Elderly people in particular – many of whom have been deserted by their own children – are at their wit’s end. As one woman puts it, “We used to be able to take care of ourselves, but now we’ve become beggars in our own country.” Unlike his sister, Tasos seems indifferent and businesslike, consciously choosing not to let any friendship develop with his customers, because “in the end they’ll take advantage of it.” This is a film about coldness and warmth, in a climatic sense as well as in human relationships.