Step by step, quietly and with a steady rhythm, Christina Kampos has been turning a quiet, persistent dream into a series of remarkable milestones. The first film adaptation of her novel emerged from the pages of a simple, powerful book titled Poppy Lemon Bread, which found a place on popular shelves thanks to its clear voice and intimate storytelling. The real leap happened this Saturday when she advanced to the finalist round on Planet with The Stories of Married Women. The moment feels almost surreal to her, and she works hard to measure her words before the excitement swells into a confession that she is, indeed, a winner. Her focus remains fixed on the emotional arcs of women in their forties like herself, women who balance the uncertainties of long-term relationships with unlikely fantasies that break the mold of everyday life.
Kampos has spent a life immersed in cinema, a career that has shaped how she sees storytelling. She has earned admiration as a director, while keeping a drawer filled with screenplays she could not produce yet. Simultaneously, she has always been a devoted reader, sharing time between literature and film with her partner, the filmmaker Jaume Balagueró. Their worlds converge yet remain distinct—he with his zombies, she with her women—an enduring contrast that fuels her passion for character-driven narratives. The blend of screen craft and literary devotion marks her unmistakable voice in contemporary storytelling.
my best friends and me
From the people closest to her, Kampos drew the core of her three central characters. They are composites built from real friendships, imagined whispers of trust, and the unguarded experiences shared during late-night talks. Each woman in the trio offers a window into moments of beauty and heartbreak, weaving those truths into scenes that feel both intimate and universal. Kampos has said that her purpose was to look at female desire with honesty, letting the psyche breathe openly on the page. The result is a novel that speaks in a candid, unfiltered voice about needs, risks, and the courage to own one’s own story.
Luz Gabás wins the Planet prize in a calm, unsensational gala
It is easy to imagine the moment when the narrative lines up with triumph, yet the scene unfolds with quiet momentum. The central character of the story faces a personal crisis that tests fidelity and commitment. After years of a steady, ordinary partnership, an intriguing encounter disrupts the status quo, prompting introspection and a reevaluation of love, loyalty, and choice. Kampos does not shy away from provocative themes. She writes with a directness that invites readers to look at intimacy through a clear, female gaze. Her approach is often compared to filmmakers who place the camera where a woman would stand, revealing truths that might otherwise stay hidden. Labels fade when the work speaks plainly about desire, risk, and the choices that shape a life.
those fears
In this novel, Kampos leans into the fears that accompany long-term relationships. The work captures the tremors and tremulous moments that come with shared lives and the occasional drift of trust. She argues that the heroine’s journey is not merely about romance but about confronting fear head-on, about taking a bold step when the familiar seems insufficient. The writer insists that her protagonist’s adventure is a deliberate choice, not a reckless impulse. The strength of the fiction, she maintains, lies in its ability to reveal humanity with honesty and without illusion, letting readers recognize parts of themselves in the pages.