More than just a historical drama, this film is a cinematic experiment, a cultural intervention, and an educational tool that reimagines how we engage with classical antiquity in the 21st century. NENIKIKAMEN, by Yiannis Stravolaimos, a bold and visionary work of world cinema
One of its most daring and intellectually significant choices is the use of ancient languages. Unlike most historical films that modernise dialogue for accessibility, NENIKIKAMEN revives the original languages of the time—Ancient Greek and Old Persian—preserving the linguistic integrity of the historical record.
This decision is not only aesthetic, but also epistemological. Language shapes perception, and by restoring these lost sounds to the screen, the film offers audiences an encounter with the ancient world that is both immersive and authentic.
This choice transforms NENIKIKAMEN into a cinematic document that safeguards intangible cultural heritage. For students, educators, authors, and enthusiasts of classical studies, it will serve as a unique resource, bringing history to life in a way that textbooks cannot replicate.
The film dramatises the Athenian defence against the Persian invasion in 490 BC—a defining moment of triumph, where freedom overcame tyranny, unity prevailed over division, and courage eclipsed fear. At the heart of the narrative is the legendary figure of Pheidippides, the messenger said to have run from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory, crying “Νενικήκαμεν!” (“We have won!”) before dying of exhaustion. This poignant moment symbolises the union of personal sacrifice and civic duty in service to one’s homeland.
In Greek, there is a word for someone who loves their country and dies for it:
φιλόπατρις < φιλώ (to love) + πατρίς (country, homeland).
From this word, we get the English term “patriot”—a legacy of Greek thought.
NENIKIKAMEN offers younger generations role models whose virtues extend beyond superficial heroism. Its characters—whether soldiers, leaders, or mythic figures—embody perseverance, responsibility, self-sacrifice, and loyalty to the common good. These are the values that our youth need today, in a world increasingly marked by individualism, cynicism, and short-term thinking.
Today’s children grow up in a global culture saturated with commercialised media, digital distraction, and shallow portrayals of identity and success. A historical film like NENIKIKAMEN challenges that norm. It reminds us that our past matters—that heritage is not static, but a living source of wisdom and strength.
This Greek production is a tribute to the values that shaped Greek civilisation and, by extension, Western thought. For children and young audiences, it offers an alternative vision of heroism—one rooted in patriotism, duty, moral clarity, and courage.
It reminds us that the past is never truly gone—it lives on in the stories we choose to tell, and in the languages we dare to revive.
