There are many ways to travel to the United States, the methods and the roads to get there are diverse. When writer/director Nick Gaitatjis wrote and directed the film WITHOUT BORDERS, he wanted to raise awareness that not all those who come to America through Mexico are Mexican nationals; they come from all over the world. And as diverse as the reasons, so are the obstacles.
Based on a true story, WITHOUT BORDERS is the tale of Thanasis, a compassionate cotton candy vendor from Athens, Greece. Separated from the only real family he’s ever known, he risks an illegal border crossing and overcomes many obstacles in the hopes of finding the child he raised.
Gaitatjis’s own road to America came when he emigrated from Greece in the late 1970s for a better education. By 1986, he turned to professional filmmaking. Although the idea for his latest film came to him as early as 1980, it took over 25 years for the movie to be produced. With the sudden death of a good friend, he felt he had to take action to bring WITHOUT BORDERS to life on the screen. Says Gaitatjis of that time, “Whatever you can do today, do not delay until tomorrow. I could not wait any longer.”
He overcame considerable obstacles in creating this uncommon road movie, some serious, some legal, and yes, some even funny. The logistics and financial challenges of shooting in three countries were daunting. A controversy over music rights forced a ban on the movie in Greece. Shooting a scene in New Mexico with an eager, venomous snake could have turned ugly, if not for an experienced handler.
As a director, Gaitatjis prefers to approach film from an actor’s perspective, and to him, his actors are family.This same sense of extended family takes center stage in WITHOUT BORDERS. Come meet him and see the film.
The Santa Fe Film Festival invites you to join Director Nick Gaitatjis, Producer Sandra Staggs, Editor Matthew Cassel, and cast members for a question and answer session and reception after the film’s screening at the New Mexico History Museum, Friday, October 5, 2012. Tickets are $30 and include the film, reception, and Greek and Mexican inspired appetizers provided by event sponsor Leonardo Razatos of Plaza Cafe Southside. To purchase tickets, https://santafefilmfestival.com/index.
