LISTEN

Financial upheaval forces deaf girl Valmira (16) to return to her father's Aegean island and leave behind the School for the Deaf, the only home she has known since her mother's death when she was nine. Mistrustful of her father, Stamos, and his Bulgarian partner, Tania, Valmira tolerates her new circumstance only with the understanding that it is temporary; her father promises to return her to Athens next year.

Valmira makes little effort to adapt to the world of the hearing and - stubbornly attached to the sign language - refuses to wear a hearing aid. Tania’s son, Aris (18), offers to be her ally but his status as “other'' makes him unwanted company for her. Instead, she mixes up with Aris’ worst enemy, xenophobe Marios(17), who falls in love with her, but hides his feelings from his friends. When these friends bully her, Marios, not daring to confront them, hides away, while Aris exposes and ridicules them. Confused and humiliated, Valmira shouts at Aris that she does not need his help. Meanwhile, Stamos, broke and indebted, fails to enrol her back to School for the Deaf. Valmira will stay on the island and finish school here. Valmira feels trapped and resentful. Her sole consolation is her love for Marios. When, after a fight between Aris and Marios, the latter goes to hospital in Athens, Valmira wrongly reports to the school that Aris injured Marios. In reality Marios is ill, but Aris is still expelled from school. Aris’ kindness and care for Valmira turn into fury and contempt, while Tania accuses Stamos for this development. With Aris estranged from her, Marios in hospital and her “family” in shambles, Valmira begins to suspect her misunderstandings and self-delusions. When an unexpected turn of events leads Aris and Marios to reconciliation and mutual forgiveness – Valmira, at long last, is compelled to “listen” – not necessarily with her ears – to the truth of those around her as much as that of her own self.