A new documentary, Lesvia, directed by Greek filmmaker Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, charts the rise and decline of the lesbian community that grew up around Eressos on the island of Lesbos, birthplace of the ancient poet Sappho. The film, reviewed here, is described as an elegant and touching debut feature that blends oral history with archival photography to document how a niche pilgrimage site evolved into a thriving, women-run enclave before falling into decline.

The community began forming around a nudist beach in the 1970s as growing numbers of queer women visited to pay tribute to Sappho, initially facing local homophobia and hostility before tolerance grew alongside the economic benefits tourism brought, leading to female-run bars and hotels. However, the scene largely collapsed following Greece's economic crisis, which began in 2009, leaving the community more marginalised today, though younger visitors still continue to visit Eressos. The reviewer praises the film's evocative sound design and its interviews with women from around the world who experienced the area's "golden years".