VIENOULAS ENGLISH SPOKEN by Andonis Theocharis Kioukas

VIENOULAS ENGLISH SPOKEN
Script-editing-Direction: Andonis Theocaris Kioukas
Doc, 50', 2015

The film tells the story of Vienoula, a weaver who changed the course of crafting Mykonian textiles.
Born in 1907, Viennoula traveled to England at the age of 13. The year was 1920 and she spent the next 5 years in Britain at her godmother’s side. She learned perfect English and eventually returned to Mykonos in 1925. Upon her return she took up her mother’s loom and began to weave. She married Dimitris Kousathanas (nicknamed “Baby”); they had 5 children together. After World War II ended the first tourists began to visit the island. And they met Viennoula as she was the only local who spoke English. One of these travelers was Florence Henry, the photographer for Dior. He inspired Viennoula to transform herself from employee to entrepreneur. In 1950 she opened her own shop with her own original creations. From that point on, each visitor coming to the island, without exception, ended up in a tiny shop with a sign posted on the door “English Spoken.” Inside the small room the walls are covered in shelves brimming with her handmade creations: jackets, skirts, ties, tablecloths, rugs and blankets. In front of the window stands the loom and seated behind it is a Greek woman with sparkling black eyes and neatly combed grey hair, welcoming you with a smile as warm as an embrace. Poets, writers, architects, dancers, fashion designers, musicians and artists from every corner of the earth gathered round Vienoula’s loom. In the back of the house was the kitchen. On the large table there was always a plate of food to be shared with Mykonian or tourist passer-bys. And with some of these people lifelong friendships were forged; Kostantino Doxiathi of the building society and the violinist Yehudi Menuhin were 2 of these friendships.
Vienoula revolutionized the traditional Mykonian woven textile. She experimented fearlessly, willing to try new things. She changed the plain, somber pattern and the method of the weave. But more important than everything else she changed the color of the textile; she made it brighter, colorful and charming. Vienoula was both open-minded and open-hearted. She became one of the people who was identified with Mykonos. She loved life; to dance, to sing, to share good company, to tell jokes and to pose riddles. She was smart and ambitious and without grandiose ideas about herself. And when both Greeks and tourists told her she was an artist she replied “I am simply a weaver.”

[denverdubois]

My late grandmother Agatha was friends with Vienoula back in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. She and her husband lived in Athens for many years. I was lucky enough to meet her when I was a girl. She was so kind and gifted me a beautiful woven bag to keep my little treasures in, which I still have to this day, over 40 years later. Grandma often sent my family Vienoula's woven art; I actually buried my father wearing one of her exquisite woven wool ties with his favorite suit. It is so wonderful to be able to watch this. Thank you so much for posting it. RIP Vienoula and Grandma, I will remember you both forever.

[pinoamato]

I love it but please need some English subs! Tnx!!

[vmavrodis]

Πολύ αργά έμαθα για το Ντοκυμαντέρ, ψάχνοντας στο διαδίκτυο, με αφορμή το βιβλίο τής θυγατέρας Αννουσιώς. Εξαιρετικό και μπράβο σε όσους συνέβαλαν.