Cloudy Sunday

Based on the book "Ouzeri Tsitsanis" by George Skarbadonis, "Cloudy Sunday" recounts the forbidden love story between a Jewish girl and a Christian boy during the German occupation of Thessaloniki in 1942. When Giorgos falls in love with Estrea, they and their families must overcome an array of obstacles and hardships. Despite the Resistance, the persistent hunt for Jews gradually spreads, and simple choices suddenly become life-changing decisions. The story of "Cloudy Sunday" largely unfolds in an ouzeria that features the singer Vasilis Tsitsa, a real-life figure now regarded as one of the greatest Greek composers, librettists, and singers of the 20th century. After implementation of the Nazis' racist laws, the small club in which he performs becomes a place of sanctuary where those under threat can escape the rampant hatred just outside its door. By listening to Tsitsanis, people such as Giorgos and Estrea find their profound troubles temporarily eased by the beautiful folk music known as rebetika. (St. Louis International Film Festival)