Patty is such a girly name

Daphne Patiri, nicknamed Patty after her surname, is a young judoka from the Greek island of Ikaria. When she meets coach Yuri Savvidis, the chance to train in Athens and aim for Olympic qualification takes her away from her mother and grandmother. Giorgos Georgopoulos’s Patty is such a girly name begins with that move from island to city.

In Perama, between the port and the gym, she must build a new daily life. Lodging, meals, weight and training all form part of the same journey: her coach’s support opens opportunities while also introducing rules that affect her private life.

At the dojo Daphne meets other athletes and faces a rival team. Judo is more than her goal: holds, weight categories and lessons shape her relationships with teammates and adults. Meeting Zoe, a more experienced judoka, opens her world beyond training and brings new questions about trust.

Weight categories, techniques learned on the mat and the possibility of qualification affect relationships between the young women. Away from the gym, lodging and work at a taverna show how much Daphne’s new life also depends on the people willing to help her.

Written and directed by Georgopoulos, the Greek feature follows its protagonist as she negotiates sporting expectations, desire and independence. Its title refers to the nickname she is given in her new surroundings.