We wanted so much to live the joy of being free
When Tzeli Hadjidimitriou made a trip to a quiet Greek island beach, she simply wanted a rest. Instead, after two days there, her life took on a new direction and meaning.
In 1980, just before Tzeli Hadjidimitriou was about to start university, she wanted to have a short holiday on her native island of Lesbos. It was a last-minute decision. Instead of going to one of the popular summer resorts, Tzeli ended up on a beach near the sleepy village of Eresos. There she discovered a community of women openly living together and loving each other. It would change everything about her life and her work as a photographer and filmmaker.
Presenter: Shahidha Bari
Producer: Radek Boschetty
Get in touch: [email protected] or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo description: Tzeli Hadjidimitriou in the 1980s. A three-quarter profile of Tzeli who is smiling and wears a yellow top. Credit: Courtesy of Tzeli Hadjidimitriou)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Wed 19 Aug 2026 11:06GMTBBC World Service
- Wed 19 Aug 2026 17:06GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Wed 19 Aug 2026 21:06GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Thu 20 Aug 2026 02:06GMTBBC World Service
Watch Lives Less Ordinary on YouTube
Videos from our extraordinary podcast Lives Less Ordinary.
Contact Outlook
Info on how we might use your contribution on air
Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary
Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected