Burning from the inside

We started shooting ‘Burning from the Inside’ immediately after the announcement of the Berlin Greek society that the Nazis of Golden Dawn tried to expand in Germany. This happened in January 2013. We then felt, that it was essential for us to do something about it and show that the Greeks of diaspora are not unattached to the Greek problems. Our aim was to raise global awareness on the situation in Greece, expose the true nature of the Nazis and call for help. We had no script, no concept no story, no money. We only had the lust to protest. We formed a small team and with our own means started to shoot. At the time, we were facing the obscured situation that all the authorities and the government of Greece were under a kind of agreement with the Nazis, allowing them to spread their seed of hatred. As a result, the focus of the research was on collecting information and proof that would bring the gung of Chrisi Avgi against the law. However, during the shootings of the film and while we were very close to an end, everything changed. The vicious murder of Pavlos Fissas by members of the party changed the political scenery. Within a week, the Nazis were confronted, and their crimes were exposed. At first I thought that our ‘mission’ was completed, although we didn’t actually do something about it. In other words, for me there was no film anymore. However, looking at the footage, I realized that there was also another story here which was not yet told. The story of us, the Greek immigrants of Germany, as we experienced the situation. And this is how the film started to getting a ‘new’ shape. Filming ‘Burning from the Inside’ was not easy. Many times we had to come across dangerous situations, such as the rage of the Nazis or police violence. As we all know, whereas there is corruption, a camera is always unwelcome. However, we did it. This film means a lot to me. It reflects my agony and my feelings about my country as well as my disgust for all those who try to destroy it.