The portrait of my mother

The documentary unfolds as an intimate portrait of a mother, built from the quiet repetition of everyday gestures. Xanthos Tsafalopoulos approaches his subject with care, letting the camera remain a silent witness that gathers small details rather than imposing a narrative. In scenes such as reading by the warm glow of a decorated tree, domestic light becomes a deliberate visual element and the room acquires texture and atmosphere.
The film’s argument is simple: true character is often revealed in routine. The work focuses on ordinary acts—morning rituals, small hands, a pause to read—using close and medium framing to emphasize expression and detail. Natural and practical lighting gives the imagery a soft, warm palette while measured editing allows moments to breathe and shifts in mood to surface organically.
Technically, this undergraduate documentary from 2020-2021 functions as an exercise in observational filmmaking: careful attention to on-set sound, ambient room tone, and camera placement creates intimacy without intrusion. Supervised by Chalkou Maria, the project demonstrates how modest cinematic choices—patient takes, unobtrusive framing, and restrained sound design—can turn the seemingly insignificant into a revealing likeness. The resulting portrait feels both tender and grounded, showing how routine can disclose deeper truths about identity and care.












