What do 30 Norwegian students do in Athens amidst the crisis? And what do they think about the debt-ridden Athenian capital and its citizens?

They came to Athens in November 2012, as part of a cinematography internship, organised annually by the Oslo Westerdals School of Communication. The goal of the programme is to depict ordinary heroes, and capture moments of their daily life, usually found in international "red zones"; only, this time they chose Athens.

For a whole month, the students scoured the city, trying to bring to the fore true the faces of true heroes who make ends meet without losing hope, while continuing to inspire others around them: an artist, a clown, a synchronized swimmer, a police officer guarding an MP, a drama teacher. They created ten different documentaries– portraits of real people along with a series of reports on various Athenian landmarks and events, such as the November 17 commemoration demonstrations and the Varvakeion market in the heart of Athens.
 
And despite the problems Greeks face on a daily basis, the Norwegian students, when asked about how they see them, they all surprisingly remarked: "we envy you."


After spending one month feeling the beat of the capital, they were inspired and impressed by the people, who are passionate, open and forthcoming. Their work premiered on January 14, 2013 in Oslo and trailers are available online at their project website heroesdocumentaries.tv.