A husband whose young wife has committed suicide meets for the first and last time his Russian mother-in-law who has arrived to collect the coffin.

Sotiris is a financial editor at a local newspaper, living a mundane life, until he locks eyes with the gorgeous Olga at a Russian expat Christmas party. Unable to get her out his head, he starts looking for the girl of his dreams, only to find himself immersed in a dark and dangerous world, where the difference between illusion and reality will soon be made abundantly clear.With Zenia Kaplan as the proverbial femme fatale, Savvas Karydas explores the twin concepts of escape/dream and dead-end/deceit. From this unique perspective, Illusion could easily be perceived as a film noir. At the same time, it’s a film about contemporary credit crunch societies and their effect on relationships and attitudes, imposing a new moral order where love and friendship are tested, redefined and demystified.

Elena, a Romanian single mother in Athens, dreams of a better future and a sense of belonging she has long been denied. When she is unjustly fired, her fragile world collapses, and her long-suppressed activist spirit awakens. Determined to seek justice, she turns to Yota, a charismatic lawyer, and discovers a bond that rekindles her desire to live, to open her heart, and to raise her head with dignity. As Elena confronts systemic injustice and fights to reclaim her voice, she will have to courageously decide what matters most: her family, her ideals, or the chance to love again.