A la recerca del lotus

In 1951 Australian writers Charmian Clift and George Johnston left gray post-war London to live in Greece. They settled, first, on the small island of Kalimnos and then on Hydra; his plan was to live simply and focus on his writing. In Hydra they fulfilled their dream: they bought a house near a well and started a quiet and authentic life dedicated to their passion: literary creation. This idyllic, bohemian existence soon collided with the chaos of domestic life, childcare and a meager income from royalties. At the same time, alcohol and harbor taverns distracted them from their creative goals, and they became the center of an informal community of artists and writers. This group included Leonard Cohen, who they hosted as a guest. The gradual arrival of more artists and, eventually, tourism would shake their ideal of life. Clift tells us the construction and decay of his utopian dream, while showing us an evocative image of the inhabitants and the rhythms of traditional life on the island, long before backpacking and mass tourism arrived.