Pity (2018)

In the harsh paradox that is the life of a meticulously prim solicitor, happiness is found in the depths of despair. His world shatters when his wife plunges into a coma, her condition teetering on the knife-edge of criticality. Now, he must navigate the unfamiliar landscape of single parenthood, his teenage son a constant reminder of the normalcy that has been ripped away. But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining, and for our protagonist, it's a peculiar one indeed. Devoured by the insatiable monster of grief, he stumbles upon an unusual source of solace - the sweet nectar of others' sympathy. As the veil of sorrow shrouds him, he finds himself drawn to the warmth of pity, the kindness of others igniting a spark within him that feeds off his misery. He discovers a perverse pleasure in his pain, an addiction to sadness that becomes his lifeblood, his very essence. The protagonist embarks on a journey, not one of healing, but towards a deeper abyss of despair. He begins to crave the compassionate gaze of his neighbours, their sympathy becoming his drug, their condolence his high. He weaves his life around this addiction, willing to traverse any length to keep this supply of pity flowing. But here's the catch - what if fate decides to flip the script? What if his wife, the very source of his sorrow, recovers? Then what? This is the story of a man lost in a world not cruel enough for him, a man who revels in his unhappiness, a man entwined in the twisted embrace of sorrow and joy. This is the tale of a man addicted to pity.

Pity is a drama movie featuring Costas Xikominos.

Pity is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Film Movement Plus.