Varosha, a district of Famagusta, Cyprus, was formerly a lively and flourishing holiday coastal resort, famed for its golden beaches and for attracting tourists and celebrities from around the globe. This documentary delves into how Varosha suddenly came to a standstill overnight, after the Turkish invasion and still, to this day, an ongoing occupation.

The enclosed city of Varosha had a population of more than 20.000 people in 1974. The Turkish army declared it a military zone and thus inaccessible to it’s European Union citizens, both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Since then Varosha has been left in ruins, to become a ghost town and still, after 50 years, the right of return for its displaced residents, who are European Union citizens, seems to be a distant dream.

Years have turned into decades, but Varosha stands abandoned, untouched and empty, frozen in time. Despite the international community’s efforts to broker peace, progress has stalled. Varosha continues to be mentioned in talks but remains a symbol of the wider geopolitical deadlock, a reminder of unresolved issues.

The documentary focuses on the profound silence that now defines Varosha. Through a delicate balance of historical insight and present-day observation, it aims to illustrate not just the city’s physical desolation but the deeper loss of its soul and identity. It is a story of time standing still, a city holding its breath, and the silent hope for a future where Varosha can once again embody the vitality and harmony it once did.