Guerrilla Girl

In Athens during World War II, Demetri Alexander, an intelligence officer with the Greek Resistance, walks the city streets during curfew disguised as a Nazi officer. Demetri encounters a knife-wielding elderly woman crouching near a corner and after gently taking the knife, cuts down the body of her relative, who had been hanged in the street. However, when Nazi patrols approach, Demetri hides and the woman is shot to death. Demetri next visits his aristocratic girl friend, Nina, but is repulsed when she complains that the war has ruined her social life. A Gestapo agent, meanwhile, reports Demetri's activities to the high command. Elsewhere in the city, a family suffers the deprivations of the war, but nevertheless helps the Resistance by aiding the escape of an elderly man. Members of the underground later kill the Gestapo agent following Demetri. Demetri then leaves Athens for the island of Chios, where Resistance fighter Zaira, posing as a Gypsy, is helping an American pilot escape. When she encounters Demetri in his Nazi uniform, she shoots him in the shoulder and flees. Demetri's wound is treated by Spiro Koutras, a member of the underground, and Demetri is surprised when he discovers that the guide who is to take him to a submarine where he will make his report is Zaira. Zaira hides Demetri at a Gypsy camp, where they fall in love. Demetri and American officers escape to the submarine just before the arrival of Nazi officials, who beat a Gypsy into confessing that strangers visited the camp. When no one will disclose Demetri's whereabouts, the Nazis burn the camp and arrest the residents, including Zaira. In her concentration camp cell, Zaira is indoctrinated into Communism by fellow prisoner Vanda and his comrades, who plot to overthrow the next imperialist regime. When the war ends, the denizens of Greece attempt to rebuild their lives. As the Communists grow in strength, Vanda plots a revolution with the help of his comrades, Lakme, Paul Danov, Zaira and others, although Zaira opposes further bloodshed. One day in a conversation with power-hungry Danov, Zaira reveals that she once knew Demetri. Danov advises her that Demetri is now an inappropriate friend for a Communist because of his high rank in the Athens intelligence service. In time, Zaira and the Communists go to Athens, where Vanda receives orders to organize an uprising. Danov is disappointed when Vanda appoints Lakme to head a committee that will liquidate their opposition. Demetri, who had traveled to Chios to find Zaira, is ordered back to Athens and finds Nina waiting for him at home. Although Nina wants to resume their relationship, Demetri tells her he is in love with Zaira, and she leaves disappointed. That night, after overhearing Zaira discuss the list of government officials who will be executed, Danov finds Demetri's name on the list, and seeks to improve his position in the Party by plotting to capture Demetri. Danov meets with Demetri by posing as a civilian seeking an exit visa, and steers their conversation so that Demetri will inquire about Zaira. Danov then arranges for Demetri to meet her. When the government declares martial law after the Communists demonstrate, Vanda receives orders to attack. At midnight, Vanda's troops cut off all power in the city and lay siege to its residents. Demetri and Spiro rescue Nina from her home just before Lakme breaks in with Zaira. Zaira discovers Demetri's photograph on the mantel and believes he has betrayed her. Elsewhere, Danov pleads for his life with Vanda, who has learned about his visit to Demetri. Danov negotiates with Vanda for a position on the chairman's committee, in exchange for his delivering Demetri. Setting a trap for Demetri, Danov gives him a false address where he is to meet Zaira. After posting a guard at Danov's door, Demetri leaves. Danov attempts to escape out the window but is wounded by the guard, and then accidentally killed by his own people in the street. Nina and Spiro, meanwhile, gather with their neighbors in a safe room. When Lakme and her troops break in, she orders Zaira to read the names of those who will be executed from a list. In order to spare the life of a young boy, Spiro steps forward when the boy's name is called. Although Zaira sees through his effort she allows him to proceed and he and Nina are executed after they step outside. Zaira escapes during a counter-attack and after overhearing her comrades discussing Demetri's capture, she goes to find him. Zaira beseeches Demetri to escape but she is too late, as Vanda shoots him from a high window. Vanda then accuses Zaira of betraying her Party. She responds that her only traitorous act was to follow him, then kills a guard sent to murder her. Vanda tries to retreat when he hears the Greek army approaching but Zaira challenges him, and he shoots her. Demetri, barely alive, then kills Vanda. The mortally wounded couple declares their undying love for each other and their cause, and die moments later.