19/11/2024 - Emilios Avraam’s debut feature centres on a quirky character but struggles to commit to taking a clear direction

We’re in a sun-drenched town in Cyprus, packed with tourists, where Smaragda, a former children’s TV host, is struggling to regain the spotlight. After the death of her blind mother, she moves into her home to take care of Bella, her mum’s guide dog. This is the premise of Emilios Avraam’s debut feature, Smaragda – I Got Thick Skin and I Can’t Jump [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which has world-premiered in the First Feature Competition of this year’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

The picture can easily be categorised as one of those dramas where the question, “And now, what shall I do with my life?” takes centre stage. With his rather quirky leading character, Avraam attempts to craft a story of empowerment, free will, grief, fear, family relationships, casual romances and far too many other themes. It becomes evident how this list of focal points is somewhat overlong.

The entire narrative revolves around Smaragda (portrayed by Niovi Charalambous), and we almost immediately sense we’re just watching a woman experiencing the highs and lows: going places, doing things, getting by, trying to strike a balance in life, striving for peace and quiet – and mostly failing at it.

Many subplots remain unresolved and linger in the background. In particular, it’s unclear why Smaragda continues to use social media to perform self-humiliating acts (for example, dressing up as a cat and a lioness, and attempting to act in a suggestively playful manner), repeatedly sacrificing her intelligence and reputation for some nebulous notion of “freedom” and visibility. We understand what triggered it – a younger colleague and influencer stealing the spotlight at her former network – but it’s difficult to grasp why she persists, especially when the outcomes are consistently disheartening.

Charalambous is a skilled, charismatic actress who does her best with the material at hand. However, she is tasked with portraying a multifaceted yet superficial role – a modern, forty-something woman dissatisfied with her life, often surrounded by childish or arrogant individuals. Yet, she remains true to herself. The main problem is that her character doesn’t evolve, remaining carefree from start to finish. Whatever she does seems to be a deliberate choice – except for her job as a children’s entertainer at a resort, which she takes purely for financial reasons. During one of her streams, she even utters the titular phrase – a moment that feels more self-explanatory than profound.

An unexpected discovery in the second half of the feature attempts to add more depth to Smaragda’s character and the narrative, but it comes too late and fails to make the story compelling. On a more positive note, the well-oiled cast shores up Avraam’s debut. Notably, the performances of Paris Erotokritou (one of Smaragda’s old acquaintances), Eleni Sidera (Smaragda’s sister), Patrick Myles (an Englishman staying at the resort) and Foivos Papacostas (Smaragda’s brother) particularly stand out.

Smaragda – I Got Thick Skin and I Can’t Jump was produced by Nicosia-based company Bark Like A Cat Films.