‘Sculpted Souls’ Director Stavros Psillakis on Telling the Story of a Swiss Dentist Who Treated People With Leprosy in Greece

variety.com:

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor Two years after receiving the Honorary Golden Alexander Award for his body of work, renowned Greek documentarian Stavros Psillakis returns to the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival with “Sculpted Souls.” The film looks at the history of the Hansenites — individuals affected by Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy — through the story of Swiss dentist Julien Grivel, who treated patients affected by the disease pro bono for almost three decades.

Speaking with Variety ahead of the film’s world premiere, Psillakis recalls first reading Grivel’s book, “Greece, My Ithaca,” and promptly wanting to meet up with the dentist. “He immediately won me over,” says the director, who then quickly began production despite not having funding locked yet.

Shooting took place in Crete for two weeks in September of 2023, with the following year dedicated to weaving together the new footage and archival material capturing the lives of the Hansenites in Greece in the 70s and 80s. “I wasn’t interested in making another film about leprosy and its history in Greece,” continues the director of his early motivations. “I wanted to search for Julien the man.

Who is this man who braved so many risks at 29 years old in coming to Greece to treat Hansen’s disease? What was he looking for?