‘Apart’: A Tale of Love, Borders and Hidden Secrets From Cyprus to Apartheid South Africa

When the Turkish army rolled into Cyprus in 1974, a teenage girl named Eleni was thrust into an arranged marriage and whisked away to a place that sounded just as fractured – Apartheid‑run South Africa. That premise sits at the heart of the new film Apart, a deeply personal project from writer‑director Stelana Kliris, whose own parents fled Cyprus for the other side of the world.

Kliris, already known for the short Find Me Falling, expands her vision into a full‑length feature that stitches together two very different yet eerily similar histories. The story follows Eleni (Leem Lubany), a spirited yet haunted young woman, as she learns to navigate the racial segregation of 1970s South Africa while carrying the weight of a secret from her island past.

Across the dusty streets of Johannesburg, Eleni meets Nico (Luca Pasqualino), an equally complex character whose own family history is tangled with the country’s turbulent politics. What begins as a pragmatic partnership slowly transforms into something far more intimate, but a newfound friendship forces Eleni to confront the truth she’s been hiding – a revelation that could shatter the fragile sense of belonging she’s built.

Visually, the film leans on the stark contrast between the sun‑bleached Mediterranean coast of Cyprus and the smoky, oppressive atmosphere of Apartheid‑era townships. Cinematographer Simon Sarketzis captures this duality with an almost tactile use of colour – warm earth tones for the island flashbacks, cold blues and greys for South Africa’s institutionalized segregation. The editing, handled by Emilios Avraam, weaves past and present together in a way that feels more like memory than linear storytelling.

‘Apart’ will make its world premiere at the 30th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), where it will open the Critics’ Picks sidebar. The festival’s own description hints at the film’s emotional heft: “A deeply moving cinematic ode to humanity that stays with you long after the final frame.” The buzz is already palpable, with sales handled by Reinvent Yellow Sales and production credits including Kliris herself, Susan Simnett, Jamie Harvey and Ioanna Bolomyti.

When asked why she chose to juxtapose Cyprus and South Africa, Kliris explains, “My parents left one divided place for another. I wanted to explore how that sense of ‘us versus them’ can follow you across continents, even when the borders shift.” While the central romance is fictional, many of the surrounding events draw from real testimonies, lending the film an authenticity that feels both intimate and universal.

The cast brings a fresh energy to the period drama. Leem Lubany, known for roles in Omar and Rock the Kasbah, infuses Eleni with a blend of defiant optimism and quiet vulnerability. Luca Pasqualino, whose work includes Rivals and the BBC’s The Musketeers, offers a grounded counterpoint as Nico, a man caught between his own privileges and the oppressive system around him. Supporting actress Girley Jazama (from Under the Hanging Tree) adds depth to the South African storyline.

For anyone who’s ever felt caught between two worlds – whether it’s a literal border or the invisible lines we draw in our minds – ‘Apart’ promises a resonant, often heartbreaking, journey. The trailer, which THR is privileged to debut, offers a taste of the film’s lyrical pacing, its lingering shots of Mediterranean waves, and the simmering tension of Johannesburg’s streets.

So, if you’re planning to attend PÖFF or simply curious about a story that intertwines love, displacement, and the lingering shadows of history, keep an eye on Apart. It may just remind us that the borders we fear most are often the ones we build inside ourselves.