Murderess (Greek: Φόνισσα) is a 2023 Greek drama film directed by Eva Nathena in her feature debut. The film based on the 1903 social novel of the same name by Alexandros Papadiamantis, is written by Katerina Bey. The film set on a secluded Greek island around the year 1900, follows Hadoula, a woman ensnared by her mother's rejection and the suffocating grip of a patriarchal society, as she fights to carve out a life of her own.
It had its premiere at the 64th Thessaloniki International Film Festival in 'Meet the Neighbours Competition' section on 6 November 2023, where it won 6 awards including The Best Artistic Achievement Award. It was selected as the Greek entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
Contents
Cast
Karyofyllia Karambet as Hadoula or Frangogiannou
Georgianna Dalara as Hadoula at a young age
Maria Protopappa as Delcharo, Hadoula's mother
Penelope Tsilika as Delcharo, daughter of Hadoula
Elena Topalidou as Amersa
Dimitris Emellos
Yannis Tsortekis
Christos Stergioglou
Maria Skoulas
Mania Papadimitriou
Stathis Stamoulakatos
Christina Maxouri as Krinio
Olga Damani
Ersi Malikenzou
Antonis Tsiotsiopoulos
Niki Papandreou
Agoritsa Economou
Michalis Economou
Galini Hatzipashali
Veronica Davaki
Release
Murderess had its premiere at the 64th Thessaloniki International Film Festival in 'Meet the Neighbours Competition' section on 6 November 2023.
The film was released in Greece theatres on 30 November 2023 at the Pallas Theatre in Athens. The premiere of the film was attended by then President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
It was submitted as Greece entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards in September 2024.
In November 2024, it competed in the Critics’ Week Competition at the Cairo International Film Festival
Reception
Emilios Harbis of Kathimerini awarded the film 4 out of 4 stars and praised Murderess as a bold and meticulous debut by Eva Nathena, who adapts Alexandros Papadiamantis' classic into a dark psychological thriller. Harbis highlighted Nathena's background in set and costume design, noting that she "relies (rightly) on what she knows well" to create a wild, almost dystopian setting that reflects the bleak lives of women trapped by poverty and prejudice. The film's focus on female suffering and complex mother-daughter dynamics is central, with male characters portrayed more peripherally. Harbis described the atmosphere as "heavy, closed, collected," mirroring the emotional weight of the story. He commended Karyofyllia Karabeti's performance as Hadoula, calling it "masterful," and emphasized her ability to channel the film's theatrical tone, including a "dance of ancient tragedy," to portray a woman torn between duty and deep remorse.
Accolades
The film received five awards out of a record 17 nominations in Iris Awards at the Hellenic Film Academy Awards.