by Theodota K.
(2015)
(2015)
Although the idea may seem
ridiculous today, mail order brides were a reality for thousands of young women
throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The brides were sent from their
impoverished homes in Europe to marry strangers in America so that their families
had less of a financial burden. Their stories are often untold, but one 2004
film did a fantastic job of illustrating their lives.
Award-winning Greek film
director Pantelis Voulgaris’s Nyfes is a poignant reflection of
the struggles faced by young brides. Set in 1922, the film follows Niki Douka
(played by Victoria Haralabidou), a seamstress from Samothrace who is sent to
marry a man named Prodromos in Chicago. She travels to her mystery
husband-to-be aboard the SS Alexander alongside 700 Greek, Russian, Turkish,
and Armenian women.
Along the way, Douka meets
and falls in love with American photographer Norman Harris (played by Damian
Lewis) who is on his way home to a failed marriage. Although the love story is
a bit overly tragic and hushed - forbidden love, in my opinion, is always a
cliche - the acting is phenomenal. The actors are captivating on screen; from
the first stolen glances we empathize with the characters who surely do not
deserve the horrible fate they are facing.
The film has scenes in both
Greek and English (with subtitles where needed), which makes the blending of
cultures truly hit home. The couple struggles to understand each other, as we
as an audience may struggle to understand the film itself.
Nyfes is also a resounding
work from a historical perspective. The poverty and critical
conditions that the
brides suffered through are stark with excellent scenery, props, and costumes.
They help illustrate the apparent differences between the poor women and the
first class passengers aboard the ship. I would recommend Nyfes to
anyone curious about the often overlooked history of these unsung heroes
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