An Interview with Cypriot Filmmaker Marios Piperides

Marios Piperides is a Greek Cypriot writer and filmmaker from the divided city of Nicosia. His feature film, “Smuggling Hendrix” has thrilled audiences around the world and has earned honors ranging from Best International Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival to Best Feature Film at the Montenegro Film Festival and at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. The first part of this interview was recorded during dinner at an Italian restaurant. While the sound quality suffers slightly, the conversation is up-close and personal, and offers great insight into the “Cyprus problem,” which is at the center of Marios Piperides’ light political comedy about the absurdity of borders and a little dog getting caught up in it. The episode includes excerpts from the Q&A session held after the premiere of Smuggling Hendrix in Hamburg, Germany. Marios Piperides and Dr. J wrap up the episode with thoughts about language and identity, and play a sound bite from the movie, that answers the question: “Do you know how a dog barks in Dutch?” The entire episode is in English.