Landscape in the Mist

Voula and Alexandros secretly depart their home after learning from their mother that their father lives in Germany. They cling to the hope of meeting him and imagining a better life, driven by a mix of naivety and determination. The journey begins at dawn in their village.

At Athens Railway Station they try to board the Germany Express but are removed for not having tickets. A police officer brings them to a distant uncle who reveals that their mother lied about having a father in Germany. The uncle insists the children are misled, though they still trust their mother.

A sudden village blizzard diverts attention away from the children, allowing Voula and Alexandros to slip away from adult oversight. They press on with their journey on foot, clinging to their plan to reach Germany. The harsh weather becomes a turning point in their independence.

On the road, the siblings meet Orestis, a young bus driver whose vehicle breaks down. He offers to take them along, and they join his traveling theater troupe that performs stories from Greek history. The troupe is struggling with dwindling audiences as people seek easier distractions.

The troupe's path splits from theirs, and the children decide to pursue other means to reach Germany. They are left to find their own way, and a sympathetic truck driver agrees to take them.

While Alexandros sleeps, the truck driver assaults Voula and then flees in shock at his actions. The horror adds trauma to the already perilous journey and shatters Voula's trust in adults.

The children reach another train station and narrowly avoid capture by a ticket inspector as they attempt to travel by rail. They soon run into Orestis again, who offers them a ride on his motorcycle.

Orestis's theater troupe breaks up, and members begin selling their belongings. He takes the children to an empty beach cafe and, while walking the promenade, they witness a giant marble hand rising from the sea with the index finger broken.

Due to his impending military service, Orestis is forced to sell his motorcycle. In a bar, he encounters the buyer again, and it is implied that they have a sexual encounter. Voula is disappointed by the situation, her feelings for him unresolved.

Orestis tracks the girls to a deserted, newly constructed highway and consoles Voula, telling her that the first time is like dying. The two part ways for good, the road carrying them onward toward an uncertain destination.

At another train station, a soldier gives Voula money to buy train tickets, and the sisters board a train toward Germany. They reach the border, where the river forms the boundary and they prepare to cross.

The border crossing involves a boat ride across a river as gunfire from border guards flashes. As the fog clears, Voula and Alexandros race toward a tree that emerges from the mist and embrace it, signaling a fragile hope amid danger.