“A Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra”, interview with director Jacqueline Lentzou

A Day in a Life of Joe: Chapter Phaedra by director Jacqueline Lentzou, presented in Orizzonti at the Venice Film Festival 2026, follows a seemingly ordinary day in the life of a 15-year-old boy in suburban Athens, gradually revealing deeper existential themes.

The transition from the ordinary to the cosmic in “A Day in a Life of Joe: Chapter Phaedra”

Jacqueline Lentzou discusses her latest film, A Day in a Life of Joe: Chapter Phaedra explaining that her film reflects her own way of experiencing life, caught between the tangible and the intangible. She describes her worldview as being inherently in-between, where the boundary between the real and the cosmic is blurred. Lentzou emphasizes that the universe, including the cosmic, is intertwined with everyday life, making the magical aspects of her film feel natural rather than fantastical. She highlights how the film’s narrative explores this interconnectedness, especially through the character of Joe, who often slips into dreamlike states that feel more real than reality itself.

The influence of meditation and inner worlds on Lentzou’s storytelling

The director’s inspiration for portraying the dreamlike and mystical elements of the film stems from her personal meditation practices. She believes that inner worlds contain a richness and authenticity often overlooked in conventional storytelling. Her experiences with meditation have shown her that what we perceive as dreams or surreal moments can sometimes be more truthful than waking life. This perspective led her to craft a narrative where dreams and reality coexist, questioning what is truly real and emphasizing the importance of inner experience.

A Day in a Life of Joe: Chapter Phaedra and its connection to real events

Lentzou shares that the film was partly inspired by a tragic event in Athens in 2008, when a 15-year-old boy was killed. She wanted to portray a day in the life of a young person unaware of their impending death, emphasizing the innocence and vulnerability of youth.

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