Το Κόκκινο Ποτάμι

Ottoman Empire, 1897. Doctor Michalis Nikolaidis and his wife Sofia, engage their 9-year-old daughter Iphigenia, with 12-year-old Miltos, son of merchant George Pavlidis and Eugenia. Beyond the friendship of the two families, it is an engagement with purpose. The constant attacks of the fanatical Turks against the Christians are forcing the two families to flee their homeland. Eleven years later, the two young people meet again in Instanbul and fall in love at first sight , unaware of the old family bond.

Iphigenia and Miltos confess their love under the strict supervision of Iphigenia's parents. At the dinner offered by Nicolaides to his friends Kartal and Aslan, executives of the Young Turks movement, Miltos meets his childhood friend Kerem, also fascinated with Iphigenia. Attack of fanatics tarnishes the dinner. Miltos rebels heroically fueling the admiration of Iphigenia. With his brother Themis, they take the ship to Amisos. Iphigenia says goodbye to him sad and in love. Miltos promises to marry her.

All the residents of Amisus welcomes Miltos and the Macedonian warrior Themis. In the shadow of the fanatical Osman, Paulides sets up a feast for his sons. He and his wife are happy with the prospect of Miltos's marriage to Ifigenia. Themis finds his fiancee Vassiliki again. Vasily Sakharov, a friend of Nikolaidis, a banker and weapon dealer from Paris, arrives in Istanbul.

Miltos eagerly returns to Iphigenia's home. He meets Sakharov and impresses him with his intelligence and sharpness. Iphigenia dreams of their common future. Miltos promises her a happy life. Sakharov, however, proposes to follow him to Paris, to become his right hand there. Miltos is excited. Iphigenia reacts.

Ifigenia's anxiety over Miltos's departure to Paris is heightened. Miltos proposes to marry her now if she wants. Ifigenia is proud, she refuses. Miltos arrives in Paris. He is drunk from the air of Europe. The handsome and shy Pontiac, is sought after young Europeans, and neglects Iphigenia, who suffers wounded in his laconic telegrams. In Amisos, George Pavlidis is persuaded to go down to the 1908 elections. Elections that promise big changes in the Ottoman Empire.

After the elections, the Greeks of the Ottoman Empire realized that things were not as they expected. Miltos' father is elected Member of Parliament, but terrorism in the villages of Pontus remains. The Sultan's forces are counter-revolutionary, but they fail to regain power. In the riots that erupt, Dr. Nikolaidis is saved from a certain death by the chieftain Spatharis, who pays for his love interest for Iphigenia. In this perverse atmosphere, Miltos asks Sakharov to go back with Kerem, who has already arrived in Paris.

Miltos's letter finds Iphigenia worried about the future of their relationship. The distance between them has been uncertain. Her response, however, is arriving late in Paris. Basil Sakharov has already assigned Miltos a mission to Russia and will not be in France when the letter of Iphigenia arrives. In Saint Petersburg, the charming and intelligent Miltos is likable to the Minister in charge of the ammunition and to his young beautiful daughter, who is besieging him. In the temptation to succumb, Miltos has to consider, apart from his career, the fortunes of the two families - both his own and that of Iphigenia - who continue to wait for him back home, with political tension and conflict to scale.

Ifigenia, realizing the dangers in her relationship with Miltos, arrives in Paris to study. Her dream of becoming an archaeologist will come true. Her aunt, Helen, lives there and will host her. On the occasion of the reception of the French Minister of Defense, the love of Iphigenia and Miltos is rekindled and overcomes the temptations that have been chasing them so far. Miltos with Iphigenia in the European capital live at last free and happy. But their carefree lives are threatened by the clouds of war that spread over the Balkans. Back home, on the coast of Pontos, the Turks continue to terrorize the Greeks. And this time, they have targeted Milto's family.

Miltos and Iphigenia travel to the coast of Pontus to attend Miltos' brother's wedding. But the marriage of Themis and the Vasiliki is tarnished by the people of Osman. The situation in the country and in the Balkans leads Sakharov to propose to Miltos to leave for Russia again. The outbreak of the Balkan Wars finds Iphigenia student organizing a fundraiser at the University and distributing propaganda material in favor of Greece, and Miltos decides, in spite of Iphigenia's objections and fears, to join the Greek army in order to fight on the front line.

The situation in Greece as well as in the Balkans is bleak. Sakharov proposes to Miltos to leave for Russia again. The outbreak of the Balkan Wars, finds Iphigenia a student, organizing fundraisers and distributing propaganda material in favor of Greece. Miltos decides, despite opposition and fears of Iphigenia to join the Greek army and fight on the front line - Iphigenia's important action in Paris in favor of Greece and Miltos's participation in the First Balkan War by the Greek ranks army, will create serious problems for the Nicolaidis and Pavlidis families.

While Miltos fights for Greece, Iphigenia continues her action in favor of the Greek Army. Threats of Turks against their families in Pontus are now being dealt with. Nikolaidis is being questioned by his old friend and neighbor, Kartal, who is acting minister of the New Turkish government. Sophia, in a desperate attempt to seek Kartal's word, confronts his inhumane cruelty. In the Amisos, Osman intensifies his threats to the Pavlidis family, preying on and beating Themis and George. On the battlefield, Miltos loses his friend Lefteris, but the game of fate does not stop there. Life and war will confront him with his brother Kerem.

Ifigenia, seeing a cinema news release of 'Pate' in which Miltos is injured, decides to travel to Greece to find him. Mr Pavlidis attack on the fields by Osman leaves him severely injured, depriving him of the opportunity to walk. Themis is overwhelmed by anger and decides to respond to Osman and his men. Together with Basiliki's brother they try to get Osman out of the way. The riots that erupt after the ambush they set on him take on great dimensions. The life of the Greeks on the coast of Pontos is even more difficult. The interrogation of Osman's shooting will be taken by Captain Ali Omeroglu, who is hastily coming from Istanbul. Its appearance will play a catalytic role in developments.

The entrance of the Greeks to Thessaloniki finds Miltos recovering from his injury in the arms of Iphigenia, ignoring that back at home, his nephew and first grandson of the Pavlidis family is born. In Amisos, Vasiliki brings to the world a healthy baby boy, giving joy to Themis family. Turkey's defeat in the Balkans finds the coasts of Pontos to be inhabited by Muslim refugees and war losers to claim to their defeat to Greeks and Armenians living in the area. The tensions are escalating. At the same time, the Germans find the opportunity to penetrate the Ottoman political scene and the military dynamically.

In Amisos the arrests of Christians are followed by torture and hanging. Osman invades the house of the Paulidis family and offends Vasiliki. Turkish gendarmes arrest and imprison Themis. The command is death. In jail, the Metropolit secretly gives a chop to Them, urging him to flee. Themis, Panagiotis, the teacher and those who can stand on their feet flee for the mountain but some of them will not. Vasiliki's teacher and father lose their lives. The Turks put on hangers. The command is one: they will hang alive and dead. Kerem sends Iphigenia an anonymous letter urging her to call her family in Paris. She decides to return to Constantinople and is arrested by Kartal.

Iphigenia is violently arrested and interrogated by Onur Aslan, a longtime acquaintance of the Nikolaidis family. In Paris, two men beat Miltos and steal his money and documents. Zakharov's man attends the event. In Amisos, Osman visits the Pavlidis family home with violent moods. Wanting to know where Themis is hiding, he becomes aggressive towards Vasiliki. In Istanbul, Iphigenia is still in prison. Three husky hoodlums attack her guard and kidnap her. They take her to a house where a man's shadow offers them a pouch. When Iphigenia arrives, she will try to escape, but will not succeed. She will be surprised to find out she knows the man who kidnapped her.

Kartal suspects that Kerem is responsible for Iphigenia's escape. Father and son "come to hands". In Instabul, Kerem is surprise by Miltos attacking him to find out where Iphigenia is. An uninvited visitor makes his appearance at the Nicolaidis home. It is Miltos who informs them that Iphigenia has "popped it". At the same night, Onur Aslan, with two uniformed, invades the house of Nicolaidis looking for Iphigenia. Themis decides to leave his hideout to meet his loved ones secretly. The town crier commands the evacuation of Amisos by the Christians. The next day on the square, people are packed with all their belongings. All eyes show the pain of the lives they leave behind.

A great caravan starts from Amisos. The Greeks left their homeland, leaving on carts loaded with whatever they were able to get together. On the street, Turkish villagers attack them. Ifigenia and Ali witness the murder of a mother and her child. In Constantinople, Kerem secretly visits Miltos and informs him that Muslim refugees from Thrace took their homes in Amisos while his brother fled to the mountains. Turkish guards attack the women in the human caravan, attempting to rape them. Among them are Eugenia and Basiliki. The Turks continue to execute those who resist. In Amisos, Theocletus visits the church, where he is surprised to find Miltos.

Ali and Iphigenia arrive in Erzurum. Ali presents Iphigenia as his fiancee. Seeing her, his mother tell her son that she is pregnant and should marry her. The caravan with uprooted residents of Amisos continues its course with the Turks hitting and mocking them. Pavlidis understands that he is a burden and begs Eugenia to let him go. Those who manage to survive reach the deserted village but the Turks re-raise them and continue to roam the wilderness without water and food on the pretext that they are being returned to Amisos. Giorgos Pavlidis is helpless behind - Eugenia breaks up unable to stay with her husband. Miltos and Themis try to save their father and reunite the family.

Miltos leaves for Erzurum to find his beloved, but is arrested in front of Iphigenia, who cannot hide her unrest. Melike secretly sees Iphigenia praying and reveals that her family is crypto-Christians. In Constantinople, Ali finds the parents of Iphigenia and gives them her letter. Arin merges with Lucin, who cannot recover from torture. The Turks send Miltos to Constantinople, where he is tortured. Kartal is informed of his arrest and decides to act. He gives him life, but for the Turks, Miltos is dead and Kartal hands over his personal belongings to Nicolaidis, conveying the unpleasant news. Iphigenia is devastated on hearing the news.

Miltos safe in Paris wants to go to Erzurum to save Iphigenia. He goes to Sakharov, where Nikos looks at him as if he has seen a ghost. Miltos suspects him of being a Turkish informant. In Erzurum, Ali promises to Iphigenia that their marriage will be white and she makes it clear that there is no other man for her. Ali's mother has realized that something is wrong but she is not pushing to learn the truth. The wedding preparations begin. Themis and Vasiliki are struggling to get the baby's fever down but in vain. The child is in mortal danger. There is information in Paris that Austria-Hungary has declared war on Serbia. Germany sends envoy to Turkey to secure its alliance. Kartal and Onur dream of annexing territories.

In the square of Amisos, hangers are installed. Osman and Onur hang out in the square those who find themselves hiding. Theocletus tells Themis that they must resist. Vasiliki can not recover after the death of her baby. She confesses to Themis the truth about rape and he shows her with all his love that he is here for her. Turkish military informs Nikolaidis of recruitment. They tell him he has to take care of the wounded in the front line. He looks at Arin and Sofia and tells them that they must be careful and take care of the girls. Sofia decides that they should return to Ak Dag Maten. Arin and Sophia try to look optimistic for the sake of the children, as they speak for the first time about Michalis and open their hearts.

Sofia, Arin and their daughters head for Ak Dag Maten. Along the way they find a river, where the girls swim, but the danger looms. Turkish bandits grab Eirini and Lusin and rape Sophia and Arin who fall faintly into the soil. In Erzurum, Iphigenia feels the baby is coming. Melike runs to her and brings midwife. After much effort the son of Iphigenia comes to the world. Ali accompanies detainees into his work. In the procession is an Armenian boy who Ali rescues from the Turks and hides in his home. Iphigenia feels happy. He begs Ali to name the newborn baby Miltos. Miltos in Paris manages to find travel documents through Zakharov and begins to find Iphigenia.

Russian troops enter Erzurum. Christians cheer as the new Commander wants to protect them. Iphigenia asks Ali to perform their Christian marriage. The Amiens return to their homes, but find them trampled and looted. Eugenia, Themis and Vasiliki return home and try to start over again. Sofia and Arin continue to look for their daughters in misery. They arrive in a Turkish village and the couple hosting them advises them to move to Amisos, where the situation is more favorable to Christians. In Erzurum, Ali, shortly before his marriage, is forced to reveal to his parents the truth about Iphigenia.

Ifigenia considers herself Ali's wife, ignoring that Miltos is alive. Vasiliki is very scared, whether the baby belongs to Themis or Mustafa who raped her. Miltos travels secretly and manages to reach his own home.

Ali falls into the trap of Valis and is killed. Miltos arrives in Erzurum, searching for Ifigenia, learns from a Greek that he is Ali's widow. Valis reveals that he knows that Ifigenia is Greek and Ali's parents are in secret Christians.

Iphigenia and Ali's parents find that Symeon has disappeared. Hours later, they find the little boy dead. Miltos, Iphigenia and Melike are getting ready to leave, but Valis threatens Melike, she grabs a knife to attack him, he disarms her, Miltos hits him, but Valis pulls a gun. Russian soldiers arrest Miltos. The robbers sell Eirini and Lucin. Eirini is bought by a kind Hodja, Lucin is bought by a peasant who rapes her. Sophia and Arin enter Erzurum and see Vali by accident. Arin recognizes him as the one who killed her parents and pulls out a gun to kill him, but Sophia stops her. The two women, asking in the city, arrive at Ali's family home and Sofia is finally with Iphigenia.

Sophia meets Ifigenia and her grandson. Valis sees Sofia and Arin in Ali's house, threatens them and Arin takes the gun and reminds him that he killed her parents. Valis escapes, but Arin follows him and kills him on the street, where a crowd of Turks gathers stoning and trampling Arin to death. Lucin kills the Turk who bought her and escapes, but the monk Gregory finds her and hides her in a monastery. Hodjas, who bought Eirini, treats her well and she stops being scared. The Russian commander helps Miltos, Iphigenia, Sophia and Ali's parents escape. But gunmen are arresting Miltos. Nedim tries to save him, but the chief commissioner kills him.

Iphigenia, Sophia, and Melike are captured by Murat and enter a Christian caravan from Erzurum to an unknown direction. Iphigenia does not have milk for the baby, so in her despair she bites her hand and gives him blood to drink. In Amisos, Mustafa tries to rape Vasiliki again, she grabs a gun and marks him, but does not kill him. Themis suggests they leave the city in a cart. Vasiliki aborts, Eugenia falls and hits herself. The others are forced to leave while she is being persecuted, she manages to hide in Sotiria's house. Themis decides to return to save his mother. Miltos learns that he will be released after Zakharov's intervention. In Amisos, the Turks turn their backs on Theoklitos.

The Turks torture Theoklitos and shoot the Greeks who have gathered in the square. Lucy confesses to Father Gregory the horror she experienced. In the caravan of Murat and Harun, 4 of the prisoners are ordered to dig a pit. Sophia realizes that this is a tomb intended for women. The guards catch the helpless women, and throw them into the pit. Themis, his mother and Sotiria start for the mountain. Passing by the square they see Theoklitos hanging. Eirini begins to return to Istanbul. Miltos is released and is determined to find Iphigenia and the child. A group of villagers sees the Christians in the clearing and approaches them. Melike and Gesthimani tell Ifigenia to give the child to save him.

Hotza meets the caravan and clashes with Murat because he wants to help them. Irene learns from Hotza that they need to make food for the captive Christians, ignoring the fact that their mother and sister are among them. Osman suggests to Themis to surrender in exchange for letting the others escape. Themis goes to surrender but before Osman kills him, a gunshot is heard. In the midst of the doom, Vasiliki kills Mustafa. Miltos learns from Negrepontis that the Turks are burning, raping and killing the Greeks, but Greece is not doing anything. In the meantime, Themis, Vasiliki, Eugenia and all the Amisos people understand that they are excluded and decide to fall fighting.

Chrysanthi leaves with the child of Iphigenia and Miltos in the monastery where Lucin is. Turks throw fire towers at the church to burn the inmates. Hotzas and Eirini run to save them and she is surprised to see her mother and sister. But Sophia dies a little later. Iphigenia sends a telegram to Sakharov to find out where Miltos is, who is looking for her at the same time. In the camp, Nikolaidis pressures Onur to leave. He convinces him but the Turk shoots him in the knees and then leaves him helpless. Iphigenia and Eirini leave for Santa. There Iphigenia and Miltos reunite and look for their child. In the cave, the inmates quickly realize that all they have left is to die.

Those trapped in the cave decide to accept the offer to end their lives, rather than be slaughtered by the enemies. At the monastery, Miltos and Iphigenia get married and then go to Amisos, where Osman announces to Miltos that his family is no longer alive. Miltos escapes, finds Iphigenia and a French officer helps them escape. At the port, Iphigenia and the boy enter the ship, while Miltos is arrested and taken to execution. The path crosses a river that has been turned red by human blood. Miltos finds the strength and dances the 'pirichios' dance, enticing others as well. A little later he falls down exhausted, Kerem approaches him and while everyone is waiting to kill him, he breaks his shackles and whispers to him to leave.