Yiannisdoesn’thavemuchgoingforhim,saveforhisadorabledog,Jimi,andhisfast-approachingdatetogetoutofCyprusforgood.ButwhenJimiwandersacrosstheU.N.bufferzoneandintothesectionoftheislandTurkeyseizedmorethanfortyyearsago,anunregulatedstateunrecognizedbytherestoftheworld,Yiannislearns,bringingadogbackovertheborderisnotaseasyaswalkingstraighthome.HeenlistsamismatchedbandofaccomplicesfromeverysideoftheCyprusdisputetofindawaytogetJimiback,whileneverleavingthelandhecallshome.WriteranddirectorMariosPiperideshasbeenproducingfilmsinCyprusformorethanadecade,andhisinsideknowledgepaysdividendsinthisnarrativefeaturedebut—awhip-smartcomedyonlegality,disputednationality,andtheframeworksthatareerectedtomaintainafragilepeace.Hedemonstrateshiscompassionforlocalsonbothsidesofthedivide,ashetenderlycapturestheirstruggletofindhopeandmakealivinginadividedland.SuchseriousthemespairperfectlywithPiperides’ssenseofhumor:AsYiannis’seffortsdipfartherintoabsurdity,theyofferasend-upoftheforcesthatprolongaconflictthathasbeenpoorlyunderstoodandlargelyforgottenbytheoutsideworld.
