A project almost four years in the making and undertaken with almost $100,000 in financial support from supporters of the Greek America Foundation, Life Will Smile will soon be released to audiences globally.
In 1943 on the small Greek Island of Zakynthos a community of people stood together against Hitler’s ‘Final Solution’. The story of the ancient Jewish community of the island and its complete survival during the Holocaust is unique in all of Europe, as no other single Jewish community survived intact.
Director, Producer Drey Kleanthous (far left) directing the actors in stunning locations on Zakynthos.
Life Will Smile is the unique story, told through the eyes of one of the survivors, Haim Konstanini, now in his 80s, who was a young boy on the island when the Nazis came to power.
The 40-minute documentary film is co-produced by Nomadic Films and Terra Magma Pictures and supported by UNESCO.
The Greek America Foundation and Gregory Pappas played a significant role in the early stages of funding and story development of the project.
A re-enactment of a scene with Nazis terrorizing the local population.
UK-based director Drey Kleanthous is the director of the project which will premier in Zakynthos in the Fall and be released shortly thereafter.
Footage was shot on location on the island of Zakynthos where the historic events took place more than seventy years ago.
Watch the teaser here: