Golden Dawn Girls 2018

Documentary

Runtime

95 mins

Language

Norwegian

Directed by

Håvard Bustnes

Made by

UpNorth Film

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Golden Dawn Girls Plot Summary

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The documentary dives into the far-right organization surrounding the Greek ultra-right party, offering an unprecedented look at its rise and the forces that kept it in the public eye. It follows the women who stood beside the party’s most visible faces, whose voices gained resonance even within a deeply patriarchal structure. Among the figures spotlighted are Ilias Kassidiaris as the Golden Dawn spokesman and Nikolaos Michaloliakos, the founder, whose public personas helped define the movement.

After the arrests of the male leaders, the women’s voices gained even more prominence within the organization, amplified by martyr narratives that lent the movement a sense of legitimacy and continuity. The film captures a rallying cry that echoed through the ranks:

blood, honor, Golden Dawn

To explain different points of view, the documentary follows three generations with very distinct pasts. Dafni, who later becomes involved with left-wing parties, reflects on her journey: “When I was young, I had totally different political ideas. I was a member of PASOK many years. With all the ideals that inspire young people: democracy, freedom and those beautiful ideas that you eventually discover to be a lie.”

The other two protagonists are Jenny, known for her hate speech, and Urania, the leader’s daughter, who wields the strongest voice in hate speech and violence. Urania is portrayed by Ourania Michaloliakou, Ourania Michaloliakou, and her 2012 arrest for beating up a Pakistani underscores the severity of the actions tied to the rhetoric surrounding the group. The film presents Jenny and Urania as contrasting faces of the movement, each illustrating how personal histories intertwine with political extremism.

Throughout, the documentary remains careful, measured, and multi-faceted, using intimate interviews, archival material, and careful context to illuminate how a movement with a violent core also depends on carefully cultivated social and familial networks. The result is a nuanced portrait that stays true to the complexities of its subject, inviting readers to consider how and why a political current can endure through generations of personal stories and public controversy.

Golden Dawn Girls Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Golden Dawn Girls (2018) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Birth of the Greek ultra-right movement

The film traces the origins of the Greek ultra-right party and chronicles how the movement emerged in the public sphere. It frames the rise through the eyes of women who surround its visible faces, whose presence behind the scenes is crucial to its public voice. The narrative sets the tone for a story that blends ideology with personal histories.

Greece

The women behind the faces

Although the party's leadership is male and often in the foreground, the documentary highlights the women who surround the leaders. Their strong character helps bring the party into public consciousness while challenging the patriarchal barriers within the organization. The film shows how influence operates in subtle, persistent ways.

Greece

Dafni's political journey

Dafni reveals a personal transformation from a member of PASOK to a participant in the ultra-right circle. She reflects on political ideals she once embraced, and how those beliefs evolved as she watched the movement grow. Her history illustrates the complex paths that lead individuals toward radical groups.

Greece

Jenny's hate speech persona

Jenny emerges as a figure known for harsh hate speech within the movement. The documentary examines how her rhetoric shapes the party's public image and stirs emotions among supporters. Her presence sheds light on the normalization of inflammatory language in this milieu.

Greece

Urania, daughter of the leader

Urania stands out as the most vocal advocate of hate and violence, drawing strength from her lineage. Her speeches and actions illustrate how the leader's family can influence the movement's direction. The documentary establishes her as a central figure in the organization’s propaganda and intimidation tactics.

Greece

Urania's 2012 arrest

Urania was arrested for beating up a Pakistani individual in 2012, a fact the film uses to show the real-world consequences of the movement's rhetoric. The incident underlines how personal violence is entwined with political ideology within the group. Her case is presented as a concrete example of the violent consequences of extremist rhetoric.

2012 Greece

Arrests of the male leaders

The film documents the arrests of the party's male leaders, signaling a turning point that disrupts the old guard. The events shift the balance of power within the organization and intensify the role played by other figures. The crackdown serves as a catalyst for the narrative's emphasis on the women's influence.

Greece

Women gain influence after the arrests

With the male leadership sidelined, women inside the party begin to shape its course and messaging. The documentary shows how their voices gain prominence and redirect the movement’s public face. This shift is presented as a key moment in the organization's evolution.

Greece

Martyrs energize the movement

The film emphasizes the role of martyrs in sustaining loyalty and fueling the movement’s narrative. Stories of those seen as martyrs are used to justify continued activism and to rally supporters. The myth of sacrifice becomes a central pillar of the organization’s identity.

Greece

The chant blood, honor, Golden Dawn

The documentary highlights the chant 'blood, honor, Golden Dawn' as a mobilizing slogan. It explains how such chants create a shared sense of purpose and serve as a vehicle for intimidation and group cohesion. The phrase recurs as a potent symbol of the movement’s ideology.

Greece

Three generations, three trajectories

The film follows three generations with very different pasts, including Dafni's shift from leftist ideals to radical politics. It contrasts Jenny’s abrasive rhetoric with Urania’s authoritative violence, painting a multifaceted portrait of radicalization. This mosaic reveals how personal histories intersect with political extremism.

Greece

Democracy, ideals, and deception

Dafni reflects on democracy and freedom, suggesting that the ideals advertised to young people can be manipulated into a lie. The documentary uses this insight to critique the seductive power of political slogans. It underscores the tension between cherished values and the realities of extremist movements.

Greece

Golden Dawn Girls Characters

Explore all characters from Golden Dawn Girls (2018). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Ilias Kassidiaris

As the Golden Dawn spokesman, he articulates the party’s public stance and drives its media narrative. His role places him at the center of how the movement presents itself to the outside world. He embodies the party’s combative rhetoric and willingness to confront opponents in public forums.

🗣️ Politics 📣 Spokesperson

Nikolaos Michaloliakos

Founder of the Golden Dawn, he is the ideological core and historical leader behind the movement. His leadership is portrayed as the driving force behind the party’s platform and long-term strategies. The documentary situates him as a foundational figure whose presence looms over the organization.

🧭 Leadership 🇬🇷 Founder

Eleni Zaroulia

Wife of the founder and a visible member of the party’s inner circles, Zaroulia’s presence highlights the role of women within the movement’s public image. The film places her as part of the network that amplifies the party’s voice beyond male leadership. Her involvement underscores the film’s focus on the female dimension of the movement.

👩 Women in politics 💬 Family ties

Eleftherios Synadinos

EU representative for the Golden Dawn, he serves as the party’s external liaison and a bridge to European political discourse. His role demonstrates how the movement sought legitimacy and influence beyond Greece’s borders. The portrayal emphasizes the international dimension of the party’s ambitions.

🌐 EU politics 🗳️ EU liaison

Ourania Michaloliakou

Herself; daughter of the party’s leader, she is depicted as having a strong voice within the movement’s rhetoric and has been involved in violent acts, including a 2012 arrest for beating a Pakistani individual. Her position illustrates how personal ties to leadership can amplify extremist speech and actions.

👩 Family ties 🗡️ Violence

Golden Dawn Girls Settings

Learn where and when Golden Dawn Girls (2018) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

2010s

Set in the 2010s Greece, a period of political upheaval and polarization surrounding nationalist movements. The documentary traces the rise of the Golden Dawn and the legal actions taken against its leadership. It also references a notable 2012 incident illustrating the movement's violence and its repercussions.

Location

Greece

Greece serves as the setting for this documentary about the Golden Dawn. It scrutinizes the social and political climate in which the Greek ultra-right party rose to prominence and follows the women surrounding its public faces. The film situates its narrative within modern Greek society and its currents of polarization.

🇬🇷 Greece 🗳️ Politics

Golden Dawn Girls Themes

Discover the main themes in Golden Dawn Girls (2018). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

♀️

Gender in Extremism

The film examines how power within a patriarchal movement is mediated through the women around its leaders. It shows these women gaining prominence as male figures are arrested, revealing organizers’ reliance on female voices to sustain the movement's narrative. The narrative suggests that gender roles influence loyalty, recruitment, and the spread of violent rhetoric. Through figures like Dafni, Jenny, and Urania, the documentary explores how personal histories intersect with political extremism.

🕯️

Memory & Martyrdom

Martyrdom narratives are deployed to galvanize supporters, with slogans and stories that memorialize supposed heroes of the movement. The film highlights how memory is curated to sustain commitment and justify continued action. These narratives help explain the emotional pull of extremist groups and their ability to endure beyond individual leaders. The portrayal underscores how the past is weaponized to influence present behavior.

🗳️

Propaganda & Public Image

The documentary contrasts the party’s public-facing rhetoric with its private actions, revealing the tension between electoral aspirations and violent ideology. It follows how media appearances, legal crackdowns, and political messaging shape the party’s identity and appeal. The film shows how public image is crafted to attract supporters while masking underlying violence and intolerance. This theme highlights the strategic use of propaganda within extremist movements.

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Golden Dawn Girls Spoiler-Free Summary

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In the aftermath of sweeping arrests that shake the foundation of Greece’s fifth‑largest party, the documentary turns its lens toward the women who have long lingered in the shadows of the far‑right movement. Their relatives—daughters, wives, and mothers—step into the front line, not only to fill a sudden vacuum but also to preserve a political identity under siege. The film captures the austere streets of Athens, the hushed corridors of community centers, and the fervent rallies where slogans of “blood, honor, Golden Dawn” echo, creating a stark backdrop of nationalism bruised by uncertainty.

The narrative is guided by three distinct voices that span generations, each embodying a different relationship to the ideology. Dafni is introduced as a former supporter of mainstream left‑wing parties, her reminiscences of youthful idealism now clashing with the stark reality of the party’s resurgence. Her perspective provides a reflective counterpoint, hinting at disillusionment without revealing the outcomes of her inner conflict. Jenny is portrayed as a vocal advocate of the movement’s harsher rhetoric, her presence exuding a combative energy that underscores the pervasive climate of hate speech. Meanwhile, Urania, the daughter of the party’s charismatic leader, commands attention with a fierce conviction that mirrors the organization’s most extreme tendencies, her past actions echoing the anger that fuels the group.

Through intimate interviews and observational footage, the film weaves a tone that is both urgent and contemplative, balancing the rawness of street politics with the personal stakes of family loyalty. The women’s stories intersect, revealing how patriarchy, devotion, and survival intertwine within a movement on the brink of transformation. As the upcoming elections loom, the camera holds steady on their resolve, inviting viewers to watch a political landscape reshaped not by the men behind bars, but by the women who now hold its reins.