Island: The Australian Film That Made Astypalea Famous in 1989

Back in 1989, the residents of Astypalea were spreading the word that some foreign producers would be coming to the island to shoot a film. It was certainly the news of the year, but what caused even more excitement was the fact that Irene Papas, one of the most well-known Greek actresses of that era, would be starring in it. So, it wasn’t a minor production—it was, in fact, an event that would bring wider recognition to this unique place, which only a few had “discovered” by the end of that decade.

Australian director Paul Cox (1940–2016), originally from the Netherlands, had chosen Astypalea as the ideal location for his new film, which would carry the fitting title “Island.” More than anything, he wanted to shoot every scene in an authentic island setting, completely natural and far removed from everything he had typically portrayed in his previous productions. Astypalea truly served as the perfect backdrop for a film whose central messages aimed to highlight the value of human relationships, the need for personal escapes, and above all, the incomparable strength of women in the face of every kind of adversity.

Sunset behind the mountains of Astypalaia – A “frame” from the film’s opening scene.

In the film’s script that made the island famous 33 years ago, the leading roles were played by three women—an Australian (Eva Sitta), one from Sri Lanka (Anoja Weerasinghe), and of course, the Greek actress Irene Papas. Each of them, in her own way, finds herself “exiled” to this place, trying to escape her personal “tragedies.”Their lives become deeply interconnected through their shared desires and a mutual fear of the outside world. As one scene follows the next, it becomes clear that the island itself, with the warmth and generosity of its inhabitants, is what leads all three women to revelations about themselves and their place in the world.

For those who watched the film when it was available at the old video rental stores, the delicate balance between passion and fear, loneliness and inevitable attraction, stands out as a defining element of the director’s intent.

As Paul Cox himself commented: “Although set in the ancient world of a small island somewhere between Greece and Turkey, Island deals with contemporary issues. The destruction of individuality in Western society, for instance, or the confusion, madness, and brutality of the political situation in Sri Lanka. The island is about arrival and departure, home and nostalgia, sunrise and sunset, and of course, love.”

In the video below, you can watch a characteristic excerpt from the film, with scenes from inside the Castle of Chora and a traditional house in the settlement, where a local family shares their moving story with the actress.

The truth is that although the film began with the most optimistic intentions from all involved for a major production, it ultimately did not achieve the commercial success that the renowned director had hoped for. It received several awards from critics for its artistic quality, but as far as the general public was concerned, it did not receive the attention it may have deserved. In any case, the film presented Astypalaia to the world, the locals had the chance to meet up close one of the greatest actresses Greece has ever produced, and the movie is now remembered as a “classic” among the films shot on the Greek islands in past decades.

The three leading actresses of the film – Eva Sitta, Anoja, and the world-renowned Greek actress Irene Papas.

The most important awards won by the film “Island” at international film festivals.

In the video below, you can see scenes from the film where the legendary Nireas approaches the old port of the island at Pera Gialos:

The people of Astypalaia, in a scene from the film, bid farewell to the legendary ship Nireas from the old port.

Text – Edited by: Antonis Nikolakis