Pause (2018 film)

Pause is a 2018 Cypriot-Greek drama film directed by Tonia Mishiali. The film stars Stela Fyrogeni, Andreas Konstantinou, and Popi Avraam. It tells the story of Elpida, a middle-aged housewife trapped in a passionless and abusive marriage.

Elpida lives a seemingly ordinary life in Cyprus, but beneath the surface, she endures constant verbal and emotional abuse from her domineering husband, Costas. As she approaches menopause, Elpida begins to retreat into a world of fantasy and imagination, where she acts out violent and sexually liberated acts against her husband and others. These fantasies become increasingly vivid and frequent as her real-life suffering intensifies.

The film explores themes of female repression, domestic abuse, the stifling nature of traditional patriarchal societies, and the liberation sought through fantasy. It portrays the inner life of a woman struggling to regain control over her own existence in the face of long-term emotional and psychological manipulation.

Pause premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2018 and has received critical acclaim for its nuanced portrayal of domestic abuse and Stela Fyrogeni's performance as Elpida. The film has been recognized at several film festivals and has been praised for shedding light on a largely unspoken issue within Cypriot society.