Elizabeth Mutafi explains to iefimerida why the new ERT series “Bracelet of fire” is so special

A few days before the big premiere of the “Bracelet of Fire” series, Elizabeth Moutafi talks to iefimerida about her new role.

With passionate speech, fairy-like beauty, Elisavet Moutafi is the one who for years now “creates” heroines who break down any kind of repetitive manner. This year we will see her in the role of “Benuta Cohen” in the new ERT production entitled “The Bracelet of Fire”.

It is a series that consists of 8 episodes and is based on the book of the same title by Beatrikis Saias-Magrizou, with the modern directorial stamp of Giorgos Gikapeppas and the sensitive eye of Nikos Apiranthitis and Sofia Sotiriou, who wrote the script. The new series brings to the small screen the shocking journey of a family forced to seek refuge in a gypsy camp after the great fire of Thessaloniki in 1917.

Elizabeth Moutafi describes her heroine and puts us in the mood of the series that is expected to captivate the television audience

New series and a new television roof for you with “The bracelet of fire” on ERT. How did this collaboration come about?

It came from three of my favorite people. From Nikos Apeiranthitis who has written the series, Giorgos Gikapeppa who directs it and Nino Elmatzoglou who we had worked together many years ago because he was the producer of “Veras to the Right”. They are three of my very favorite people and starting from them the “marriage” with ERT came about.

Tell us about the series and about “Benuta Cohen»the heroine you play.

It is about for a true story and is the first Greek production and ERT the first channel to deal with the history of the Greek Jews, the Sephardim. It was a huge community in Thessaloniki, very developed and unfortunately these people with the Second World War were taken by the Germans to the concentration camps. In fact, in Thessaloniki the Jews who filmed were only 3%, so you realize that all the actors and contributors of the series “bear” all this. Viewers will share the emotional burden we felt and learn many things.

So, starting from 1917, Benouta is the mother of the family, wife of Moses, who we know is pregnant with her 5th child, Joseph, while she has already had David, Jacqueline, Elias and Rachel. The great fire of Thessaloniki in 1917 in which the entire Jewish community burns forces the family to seek refuge in a gypsy camp. There Benuta gives birth to Joseph. Historically, we go up to 1962 when Joseph as an adult (Christos Loulis) remembers the whole history of his family. My heroine is a very dynamic woman, with a lot of love in her, very advanced and very ahead of her time, she wanted her daughters to be educated, so to speak, and close to all her children despite the different paths that each one chooses to take. to follow. It was very touching because Beatriki Magrizou, who wrote the story about her grandmother and took her name, when she called me she was very moved and told me how much I look like her. This for me is very important and honorable because first time after so many years at work “meddle” with something real that has to do with history…For me it’s a very moving and great job.

Is this the most emotional role of your career?

Yes it is. I love all my roles because each one has been different and in general I feel very lucky with my jobs, but this is something really great. And through “Benuta” I see myself reaching an older age that I have never done beforei.

Do you find commonalities with you?

Yes, she is a very honest, dedicated, spontaneous, down-to-earth woman, she takes matters into her own hands. I think I have such elements in my character. Of course I can’t know how I would be in such a position, but the dynamic of her character I think is very close to me.

What was the most difficult moment on set?

Too many, beautiful, difficult and touching scenes. One that comes to mind is when the family hugs because the Germans come in and commandeer the house. It was a chilling scene. In another scene, which I can’t testify now, I stopped because I couldn’t continue because of crying and Giorgos Gikapeppas said to me “I understand, take a breath”.

“The bracelet of fire” is the first series that will be broadcast first on ERTFLIX and then on ERT 1.

The choice was made by ERT to release the entire series first on ERTFLIX for the public to enjoy and then on ERT. They support her and we thank all the contributors for that. People have been waiting for it for a long time and we are receiving this. But I would also like to give the credit to the younger kids, to a new generation of actors who are playing my kids. Apart from me, Nikos Psarras, Christos Loulis who are a bit older, the rest are young kids who are coming forward and doing great performances. Of course, it is also the story of Beatrikis Saia-Magrizou, the screenplay by Nikos Apiranthitis and Sofia Sotiriou, the modern direction of Giorgos Gikapeppas who almost “breathed” with us, everything contributes to the result. That’s why the well-shot trailers are reminiscent of an international production…

What is it like for Elizabeth Moutafi to play a new role every time?

Happiness. That’s why I do this job and I’m the character I am because I “want to live different lives”, so every time it’s a new challenge to sit down and search and get inside this creature that I’m going to embody. To put myself in this and that in me, because it always happens that way. And every time is a new bet. But I’m a character who doesn’t stress and let what comes.

How do you see the rise of television fiction this year?

It is important for all of us, it just needs attention because moderation is always important. Fortunately, so far all jobs are very good, but we must not go beyond the limit, be careful not to stop jobs in the middle.

What do you watch on TV?

I have checked everything. In ERT, for example, I have distinguished “Do what you sleep” and “Our best years”. And on the private channels, whether they are vintage or modern, they are all very good. One that happens in the afternoon, when I have time, and I watch is “Fleeing Love” at the Open. But they are all very nice with great colleagues and friends…

“The bracelet of fire”: The story of the new series that will premiere on January 25

The great fire of Thessaloniki in 1917 forces the family of Jewish businessman Moses Cohen (Nikos Psarras) to seek refuge in a gypsy camp. There, his wife, Benouta (Elisabet Moutafi), gives birth to Joseph (Christos Loulis and Dimitris Arianoutsos at a young age), a child literally born in the fire.

The story of fire, which sometimes creates and sometimes destroys, seems to follow Joseph throughout his life. His family lives through Campbell’s arson, the father’s bankruptcy and the flight of his older sister, Jacqueline (Nefeli Kouri), from home in order to live her forbidden love with the Christian Konstantinos (Spyros Stamoulis).

The Second World War “burns” everything that Joseph had known until then, with a tragic ending in the transfer of the family to the hell of Auschwitz. And yet, through it all, there is one material that still endures. Where no fire can melt it, but instead makes it even stronger!

“The bracelet of fire.” A shocking story about those who lost everything, but found the courage to stand up again. For those who went through the flames and came out more alive than ever.

The long-awaited series premieres on January 25th on the ERTFLIX platform and until January 31st all episodes will be available. Then you will be able to watch the Bracelet of Fire on ERT every week, without the date and time of the show being announced yet.

Screenplay: Nikos Apiranthitis, Sofia Sotiriou

Directed by: Giorgos Gikapepas

Original music: Minos Matsas

Starring: Nikos Psarras (Mois Cohen), Elisabeth Moutafi (Benouta Cohen), Christos Loulis (Joseph), Alexandra Aidini (Ester), Spyros Stamoulis (Constantinos), Nefeli Kouri (Jacqueline), Michalis Tabakakis (Ilias), Dimitris Arianoutsos (Joseph at a young age), Christina Mathioulaki (Rachel), Nicoleta Haratzoglou (Marina), Electra Barouta (Matilda), Gal Robisa (David), Panagiotis Xynos (Joseph in childhood), etc.