“The Taverna” was born in the courtyard of White Village Tavern from the remnants of a meat platter, red wine, the fateful smudges of a Greek coffee, and a rather loud and audacious possum on the roof.
The idea was to simply place them inside a Greek restaurant for one night to see what could happen. Their stories would evoke universal themes around love, migration, and displacement. 
The director's intention from the onset was to make a black comedy using a real-time structured narrative. This came with certain limitations but it was also a choice that would help shape the story and style of the film.
Greek Australian film maker Alkinos Tsilimidos. Source: Supplied
"My goal was for the audience to experience one night in the tavern and to leave wondering what the next night could possibly bring. Drawing inspiration from cinema verite, I wanted audiences to experience a personal relationship with the characters as if they were subjects of a documentary", Alkinos Tsilimidos told SBS Greek.
From Alkinos Tsilimidos' "The Taverna" film. Source: Supplied
The plot
"The Taverna" is a black comedy set inside a Greek restaurant in Melbourne over one night. It’s busy and the restaurant is running smoothly until Jamila, the belly dancer, is about to go on for her final dance.
She’s shocked to see that Arman, her ex-husband has arrived with Rebecca, his rich and much older fiancée.
Kostas, the owner, needs Jamila to dance because everyone in the restaurant is expecting the belly dancer.
From Alkinos Tsilimidos' "The Taverna" film. Source: Supplied
Meanwhile, Kostas learns that his hapless son, Angelo has been involved in a hit and run with a pizza delivery scooter. He left the scene of the accident fearing he’d killed the rider and would fail a drug test.
Press Play on the main photo and listen the interview with "The Taverna" film director, Alkinos Tsilimidos (in English).
From Alkinos Tsilimidos' "The Taverna" film. Source: Supplied
