This Border Cuts a City in Half

Inside the world’s last divided capital city

In episode 2 of Cyprus, Uncharted, we go into the last divided city in Europe and the last divided capital on earth: Nicosia where a thick green line cuts the city in half. I talk to the people who live with this division every day to better understand how it feels life on a divided island.

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Johnny Harris is a filmmaker and journalist. He currently is based in Washington, DC, reporting on interesting trends and stories domestically and around the globe. Johnny's visual style blends motion graphics with cinematic videography to create content that explains complex issues in relatable ways. He holds a BA in international relations from Brigham Young University and an MA in international peace and conflict resolution from American University.

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[Y_Canada]

I'm Eastern European. We only got access to the Internet when I was maybe 13, and there wasn't much information online yet. Not even once did anyone I discussed Cyprus with mention this divide. Not my school teachers, not my family, not any adults ever. I'm 28 now, and I learnt about this conflict a week ago when Johny posted part 1.

Johny, you're doing an important job educating us about what matters.

[Karamintheworld]

Tom Fox's music is just so well produced and fits these videos so well! A very talented musician

[Journal_Haris]

I was a fan before....now I'm a whole AC unit

Very excited about this one

[byfobinh]

This is heartbroken. From a country (Vietnam) that was once divided into two, each side identified based on another international faction, this feel more relatable than ever.

[LiberatoCaires]

I'm 32 years old and I'm from Portugal. I never knew much about Cyprus until I watched these series.
Very well documented!

[edwina]

"This is not borders" Johnny with the double meaning. I felt that.

[Senzawa]

I'm always grateful to watch this high quality documentary for free.

[KishanthJavegar]

Also, can we give it to Johnny for how incredible well this series is produced and how compelling his storytelling is! You’re killing it dude! 😇💪🏽

[greatflyer_aviation]

I never thought I would be so fascinated by learning about my very own country by a foreigner - Johnny, thank you for this marvellous series.

[GeoZoo-official.]

I love the work put into these! The Drama! The Suspense! Everything. This is the greatest series on youtube right now. Great respect to Johnny this time around.

[voncharleston]

I am from Scotland but have lived in Cyprus for 16 years and learned more in these last 2 episodes than any other channel or documentary. I have visited the buffer zone and have crossed through to the north many times. Annie's amazing story is one I have never heard before. Looking forward to learning more. Fantastic series. Well done.

[IdealMotivation]

The story telling is to the next level. Incredible! Hats off to you Johnny. 😎💪

[argyriosdoumas]

There's an expression in Greek to describe an impossible to solve problem and it's called - "Το Κυπριακό" - which literally means "The Cyprian (Issue/Situation)".

[stefanosnikolaou]

I am Cypriot, I was born in Limassol and I live here my entire life. However, you have just showed me a completely different Cyprus Johnny. In our eyes, our country looks a quiet, beautiful place, where most of us live in peace. What happens to the other side, seems foreign to us. It is funny how we know so much more about the US, which is thousands of miles away, than about the Turkish side of our island, which is literally an hour away by car. When I watched these two episodes, I I got goosebumps. For the first time of my life, I visualised how different things can be within a country. I realised that even though I live in a modern city, with tourists, skyscrapers and life seems so easy and enjoyable, less than 100 kilometres from me, this same country looks like a warzone.
Thank you for giving me the chance to discover the "forbidden" places in my country. Thank you for explaining me one of the biggest taboos in my society.

[MIssT]

I’ve loved watching Johnny’s videos since he was at VOX, I always hated learning about history but I’ve learned so much from him. Now as I’m heading to Cyprus for my sisters wedding this Sunday it’s amazing to learn so much about the country and look for the things he’s mentioned

[elliestephanou]

I've liked both eps so far, thanks for showing us some things that we might otherwise never see johnny. I have been sharing with my friends and family in Aust and Cyp 👍

[JamesKerLindsay]

Cyprus is an incredible place. So small, but with a fascinating and tragic history. I lived in Nicosia for many years and it is a wonderful place. But rather odd too. So much is so normal on a day-to-day basis. And yet there are the signs of the division everywhere. I remember watching ‘The City and the City’ by China Mieville and thinking how it seemed to parallel the strangeness of Nicosia. Two cities living parallel to one another, but apart.

[iftheBeasttttt]

Really great video, similar situation is in my country also, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Only one thing i didn't like, you mostly talked to Greek Cyprian, only one person was Turkish Cyprian. I think it's important to hear all sides

[peterinnes]

I was evacuated as a child from famagusta in ‘74. It still holds a part of my soul. It was an amazing place to grow up. We lived right on the beach. My father was a British soldier. I have been back a few times but could never get to where you have mated to go

[olefella]

The fact that we get free documentaries on YouTube by Johnny Harris is truly a gift 👍