The second of three political documentaries about the formation of the Greek Left Alliance (ELAS), titled “The hope of change,” has been released to the public, with Alexis Tsipras taking center stage and delivering the message that “Hope is born when young people take the floor and their lives into their own hands. When they speak about what concerns them, plan and dream of a better future. Because the future belongs to them.”
ELAS releases second documentary: Tsipras’s message (Video)
“The hope of change” is the second of three videos forming a unified narrative that begins with Alexis Tsipras, moves through the anxieties of the younger generation, and concludes with the collective moment of the new political movement’s creation. The videos were produced by a team of volunteers — a grassroots, handmade initiative developed under the academic supervision and creative coordination of Fani Koundouri, Associate Professor of Political Science and Communication.
The first video, titled “The sign of politics,” has already been released, with one more to follow: “The hour of responsibility.” The trilogy attempts to answer a question that transcends the current moment: what does politics mean today, and how can it reconnect with people’s real experiences and expectations?
According to sources close to the initiative, this release is not a conventional political campaign. It marks the beginning of a new form of cinematic political storytelling — one organized not primarily around electoral confrontation and direct persuasion, but around an evolving journey: from the individual to society, and from there to collective action. From lived experience to hope, and from hope to responsibility.
Tsipras: “Hope is born when young people take the floor and their lives into their own hands”
The second video gives voice to the concerns of various young people:
“– We are a generation that grew up during the financial crisis. Then came the pandemic, and now we’re living through inflation and war, which make it impossible to live with dignity. We consider it normal to have a job and still need our parents’ help to make ends meet. Despite everything, we keep trying, we keep talking. But there’s a general feeling that no one is listening to us.
– The public healthcare system basically runs on its staff alone. There is nothing else supporting it, and the only thing keeping it alive — the only thing that makes my heart beat — are the workers, who are completely exhausted.
– Children feel anger — anger and violence. It’s the reality of not being able to tell your child: “You won’t be able to study because we can’t afford tutoring.” Because let’s be honest — free education in Greece exists in name only.
– A modern Left needs to be confrontational — it needs to fight back and reclaim the commons, whether that means universities, hospitals, or energy. It also needs to be anti-militarist. And it must be deeply committed to political ecology.
– We will not tolerate meritocracy being replaced by nepotism, or our dignity being disrespected. The anxiety that weighs on us young people creates fear about our future. Professional stability feels like an impossible dream. Politics isn’t only about ministries and political parties. It’s about everything that affects us every day — at home, at work, at school.”
Alexis Tsipras responds to these concerns from young people, saying: “This generation you represent is a generation that those of us who are — well, I’m not quite a boomer, but still — find it very hard to fully understand. We were born in the analogue age and transitioned into the digital one. Your generation was born into the digital age, and that completely transforms the conditions that shape everyday life. The way we get informed, entertained, how we communicate, how we fall in love — all of it is different. And within this digital reality, I think the least we can do is stop telling you that we have the answers and we’ll hand them to you. We are here to listen to you, not to guide you.”
Watch the video:
