Mon, Oct 11, 2010
The story starts off in 2010 London, with young Alexis starting her journey from London to Crete. She seeks to learn about her roots, which her mother Sofia has been reluctant to share. Armed with a photograph that her mother had hidden for years, she reaches the tourist village of Plaka, which lies across from the island of Spinalonga. There she meets old Foteini who undertakes the task of driving her to the past and revealing the story of her roots. Meanwhile in 1939, Eleni, Giorgos, and their two daughters live in the poor fishing village of Plaka which lies in the shadows of Spinalonga and the leper colony it houses. Giorgos transports exiled lepers to their final residency on the island. Despite living in the shadow of death, life in Plaka rolls along calmly, at least until one day. Eleni finds a skin lesion and travels to the hospital in Heraklion where she is diagnosed with leprosy. The doctor also orders all the children in her class to be examined, where they find young Dimitris sick, hiding the leprosy with long clothes. The doctor orders both of them to be transported to Spinalonga.
Mon, Oct 18, 2010
Eleni and young Dimitris reach the island, the place in which they are condemned to live for the rest of their lives. Their exile to the island as well as being away from their families becomes unbearable. To make matters worse, the island suffers from lack of water, something that makes the everyday lives of the lepers even more difficult. Just an association with their illness isolates Giorgos from his fellow villagers, and forces Dimitri's family to abandon their house and move away. Even though Giorgos is one of the few allowed to visit the island to transport goods, he does not find the strength/courage to meet with Eleni for days after.
Mon, Nov 1, 2010
Giorgos tries to fall into the routine of primarily caring for his daughters, but meets difficulties with Anna's wayward/rebellious character. On Spinalonga, Dimitris makes new friends; The malice schoolteacher of the island, Ms. Kroustalaki, abuses the children, pushing Eleni to decide to teach Dimitri at her own house, with other students also joining later. This causes a clash with the school teacher of the island, who thinks she is after her job and vows to destroy her. Meanwhile, three dangerous long-term convicts are sent by the government to the island in order to patrol the lepers, and Giorgos tells Eleni to be careful so that the convicts will not harm her. At the same time, the water reservoirs on Spinalonga dry up, so Giorgos transports drinking water from Plaka for the lepers to meet basic medical needs. The citizens are also concerned of further new arrivals to the island.
Mon, Nov 8, 2010
The island receives newcomers from Athens. Their arrival however, is met with resistance from certain residents. Pestered and tortured, the newcomers find help in Eleni, Dr. Lapakis, and president Kontomari amongst others. The shortage of water and the fear of what is to come agitates and scares everyone making matters worse. Across in Plaka, Giorgos forbids Maria from going with him to visit her mother as it is forbidden. Despite this, she hatches a plan to hide on her fathers boat just to get a glimpse of her mother. Meanwhile, the baker Evgenia finds a skin lesson on her neck that will forever change her life. On the island, the newcomers begin to use their knowledge and skills to help better serve the community after recovering from their long journey. But this does not change the opinions of certain residents about them, who are ready to get violent on the island. Just as a big fight is about to erupt, it finally starts to rain much to the joy of everyone on the island.
Mon, Nov 15, 2010
Evgenia's health becomes worse day by day, and she is haunted by the fear that she may make her children sick as well. She finds refuge at the monastery, where the clergyman convinces her to leave for Spinalonga. On Spinalonga, optimism for a better life is fueled by Nikos Papadimitriou. Elections are held with the active Papadimitriou winning and becoming the new head of the island, but not without a fight from an opposing figure; Kroustalaki receives complaints from parents over her abuse to the children. Anna falls ill with mysterious skin lesions on her body, forcing Giorgos to notify Dr. Lapaki fearing the worst.
Mon, Nov 22, 2010
War breaks out in Europe; Eleni is named the new schoolteacher by the new head of Spinalonga, angering Ms. Kroustalaki. Dr. Kiritsis visits Spinalonga, bringing hope of a new medicine but also revealing that research for it is still in the initial stage. Maria meets him by the seawall in Plaka, and asks him to make her mother better. However, Eleni's health worsens as time progresses; At their house, Evgenia attends to her and Eleni asks her to look after Dimitri if something happens to her. Island resident Nikos Dimitrakis secretly swims across to Plaka to see his wife and his son; His wife begs him to take them with him to Spinalonga. Swimming back to Spinalonga late at night, the guard is looking right toward Dimitrakis direction but is distracted by Dimitri, who throws a rock at him; Dr. Kiritsis is called off to war.
Top-rated
Mon, Nov 29, 2010
German troops invade Crete and bomb Heraklion. The residents of Plaka feel the ferocity of the intruders first hand, as they occupy the village and enter their homes and seizing their supplies. In an act of heroism, Giorgos saves Manolio from getting shot by the Germans. Antonis joins the Cretan resistance and leaves with his cousin Damiano and three Englishmen for the mountains. On Spinalonga, Papadimitriou has thought ahead and stockpiled food and other supplies for the residents. Nikos, defying the dangers, swims across to Plaka once again in the middle of the night to meet his family. Upon his return, he is spotted by the Germans and shot dead. The illness takes a toll on Eleni and she collapses forcing her to be transported to the hospital. She later dies with Evgenia and Elpida by her side.
Mon, Dec 6, 2010
The story flash forwards seven years later when the war has just ended. Antonis returns home to Plaka from the guerrilla warfare, and at the urging of his parents and Anna, he gets a job working in the fields of the rich Vandoulakis family. During the celebration of Saints Constantine and Helen, Anna continues flirting with Antonis, leading up to a kiss. However, when rich land owner Andreas Vandoulakis shows up to the celebration, Anna quickly turns her sights towards him. On Spinalonga, a grown Dimitris has become the new school teacher; Papadimitriou shows an interest in Evgenia, but she ignores his advances. Her husband Vasilis back on Plaka, hides the letters she writes to her children. Just a few days until Grigoris, one of the guards, is set to finish his sentence and leave the island, he discovers he has lepercy. Meanwhile, Kalliopi gives birth to a baby girl, and Dr. Lampakis prohibits her from nursing. However, her baby cries non-stop and does not take to other milk, forcing Kalliopi to give in.
Mon, Dec 13, 2010
Andreas Vandoulakis sends a letter with Antonis to Anna, inviting her to his home; Despite being very jealous, Antonis gives Anna the letter. George and Anna then begin visiting the Vandoulaki compound often, and Anna becomes dazzled by the wealth; Antoni accuses her of selling herself out to the rich. Meanwhile, Alexandros Vandoulakis, Andrea's father, disagrees with his son's plans to marry the daughter of a fisherman. On Spinalonga, Dr. Kiritsis returns, bringing with him a new experimental medication that gives hope to the inhabitants of the island. Kalliopi and her husband admit to Dr. Lapaki that Kalliopi nursed her baby, and beg for him not to put the healthy baby up for adoption; Evgenia is attacked and raped returning home on a late night.