In the heart of Athens, Greece, between the Police HQ and the Court of Appeals lies the Community of Squatted Prosfygika. Spread through Prosfygika’s eight residential blocks are more than 400 people from 27 nations, speaking over 20 languages, and all sharing the same ideals of solidarity and communal life. In Prosfygika, 22 self-organized structures are run by and for the community, providing all the basic necessities — from a bakery to healthcare, construction, childcare, women’s support groups, and more.

Recently, the government’s been pushing forward a plan to evict Prosfygika’s residents, take over the buildings, and redevelop and repurpose them. In response, a wave of solidarity has swept the globe, and two members of the community, Aristotelis Chantzis and Souzon Doppagne, have been on hunger strike since February 5 and May 1, respectively, and vow to continue until death, or the eviction is called off.

This short film is the result of a week spent living inside Prosfygika, following everyday life, meeting residents and supporters, and documenting protests, and collective interventions. Made possible through the trust of the community, this film offers a glimpse into a space shaped by mutual aid and collective care. Autonomous spaces and squats in Greece have faced a wave of evictions recently under the New Democracy government.

Amid this crackdown, the battle for Prosfygika, one of the few remaining examples of communal living, has become a vital front against gentrification displacing communities.

Link to full story, Our Common Language Is Resistance: Life Inside Prosfygika, below.