To fintanaki

Toula, a seamstress with a heart of gold and inexperienced daughter of the impecunious postman, Antonis, falls in love with street-wise and devilishly handsome Yagos. Before long, the two lovers exchange vows of eternal devotion; however, the seductive and well-connected widow, Eva, has already caught the eye of dishonest Yagos, who is with his back to the wall. As one thing leads to another, and sly, manipulative landlady, Katina, takes over, Toula's desperate father is faced with a grave dilemma, and grizzled, financially well-off Yavrousis seems to be the only one who can offer a solution. But freedom always comes at a price. Is there an escape from the poverty trap? —Nick Riganas