Capodistrias rises again through the light

In the heart of Corfu, where the light gently touches the facades of the Venetian buildings and the silence of the streets carries the memory of centuries, director Yiannis Smaragdis returns with a film that is not merely a cinematic production, but an act of deep spiritual offering. His work focuses on Ioannis Capodistrias – the man who, by general consensus, stands as the radiant core of Greek political culture.

After many years of efforts, delays, obstacles and interventions – many of which were unjustified, even by the Greek state itself – filming in Corfu began on April 2nd and will be completed on the 10th of the month. This is not a film that merely recounts a life story, but one that seeks the hidden intensity of the soul of a man who served Greece with devotion and sacrifice.

Smaragdis’ gaze remains fixed on the inner light of Capodistrias, not on isolated historical events. He frames his shots through the very streets once walked by the first governor of Greece, in the same natural landscape that nurtured him, seeking not just truth, but the lived silence of his soul.

During breaks in filming, the director walks among the people who watch with admiration. He doesn't refuse photos—especially not with children, whom he warmly embraces, giving them space to connect with something greater than an image—something that might, one day, inspire them. "Children feel. They don’t need explanations," he says, almost in a whisper.

This film is not a commercial venture. It is, according to Smaragdis, a work made entirely through donations from Greeks and Greek-Americans. In collaboration with the KIKPE Foundation, it has already been decided that the proceeds will be allocated for national causes. “The work is not mine. It belongs to those who still believe in the mission,” the director stresses.

The portrayal of Capodistrias relies less on acting techniques and more on inner conviction. The actor playing him approached the role as a personal spiritual journey—just as Capodistrias himself was: a politician who saw life as a mission.

The crew includes not only experienced professionals but also many volunteers. Students from the Ionian University, residents of Corfu, and people from abroad participate as extras—not out of curiosity, but from a need to be part of something. It is rare, in modern cinema, to witness such involvement with so little ambition.

Filming in Romania has already been completed, and the journey continues through key historical locations in Capodistrias’ life: Athens, Nafplio, Aegina, Poros, and international locations like Austria and Switzerland. The total budget of the project reaches 7 million euros, yet Smaragdis emphasises that the real value of the film is measured differently—in emotion, in faith, in historical awareness.

The premiere is scheduled for November in New York, with the film to be released in Greek cinemas afterwards—where the need for a connection to historical depth still lingers, even silently.

Yiannis Smaragdis does not wish to present himself as the creator of a personal work. On the contrary, he prefers to stand a little behind the image, as he says, "serving." Because, as he stresses, “if we remember Capodistrias, perhaps we will remember ourselves as well.”

KORINA KOMPOLITI