What if the words we use every day shape not only our worldview but also our relationships – without us even realising it? In this contemplative short documentary, classicist Tazuko van Berkel delves into ancient Greek texts under the cover of night, following clues like a detective in search of hidden meanings. She uncovers one of her favourite Greek words, ξένος (xenos), which strikingly means both 'foreigner' and 'host'. What can this radically different understanding from the past reveal about how we see 'the other' today?
Through her exploration of the ancient Greek roots of words such as economy, friendship, and trust, Van Berkel invites viewers to question their habitual ways of thinking – and perhaps even to let them go. Insightful, philosophical, and quietly poetic, this short documentary demonstrates how the study of the classics can resonate profoundly in the modern world.