REVIEWS
“... A film made up of subtle shades of ethical dilemmas, it explores not just the violence and lawlessness of life in present-day Athens, but also whether a man can recover once his beliefs have been shattered..." denverfilmfestival.org "What a complex, compelling and important work! The use of the double-bind at the core of the narrative, the power of a no-win situation where you feel increasingly a knot in the stomach that won't go away. In the tradition of Brecht for whom catharsis was a no-no, it provokes consciousness and invites reflection. The objective of moving from a personal double bind to the more inclusive no-win double-bind politics of the culture. That's what you walk away thinking about. Evocative and appropriate cinematography and an understated but extremely effective use of music. Strong and believable central characters." Bob Rosen, Head of UCLA FILM ARCHIVE & Dean of UCLA Film Studies. “… What is it that makes a film pertinent? Topical? Necessary?… Tsemberopoulos sets up a thriller of moral suspense that is effective, without didactic and naive moralisation … the film manages to engage you completely, to hold your interest to the end and, fortunately, to not offer easy answers and a convenient ending …” G.Krassakopoulos, ATHENS VOICE “…Tsemberopoulos approaches his drama with gravity and self-possession. He finely balances the hero’s need for justice with the awareness that social injustices are the true cause of blind violence. He carefully touches upon the rising racism and xenophobia, shedding light on the potential of the average man for violence, but also on the humanity that is hidden even in the darkest of hearts…” Joseph Proimakis, CINEUROPA.ORG “… A script with exemplary structure … totally convincing protagonists … this is a man – and an entire country – suspended between two paths … it illustrates the ideological and psychological impasses with disarming clarity … the direction serves discreetly, without didacticism. A “pop” film of great elegance …” Christos Mitsis, ATHINORAMA “… a serious film, uncompromising, with a good atmosphere and sensitivity, but also with a satirical mood …” Ninos Fenek Mikelidis, ELEFTEROTYPIA |
SYNOPSIS
In Athens today, Kostas, a progressive ideologist agriculturist, lives a regular life with his wife and their teenage daughter and son, until their home is ransacked by a hooded gang. The experience of extreme violence shatters the family’s peace, bringing grandfather’s hunting rifle violently into their lives. This is the story of a morally demolished man who used to be the pillar of his family and of his struggle to get life and consciousness back to normal. Director: Yorgos Tsemberopoulos Screenplay: Giannis Tsiros Producer: Eleni Kossyfidou Co-Producers: Blackbird production, Greek Film Center, ERT, NOVA, FILMIKI Prods, STEFI, TRIOprods, Y. Tsemberopoulos CAST Manolis Mavromatakis Maria Zorba Yiorgos Gallos Antonis Karistinos Thanasis Papageorgiou Ariadni Kavalierou Ilias Moulas Kostas Antalopoulos Nikos Dalas Yannis Niarros Konstadinos Moraitis Anna Kalaitzidou Thanos Grammenos Tudor Chirila Vesela Kazakova CREW Cinematographer: Vangelis Katritzidakis Music: Akis Daoutis Editing: Yorgos Mavropsaridis Art Director: Spiros Laskaris Costumes: Hristina Hatzaridou AWARDS
FESTIVALS - BEIJING Intern. F.F. - in competition, BEIJING 2014 - BFI Intern. F.F. - Thrill, British Film Institute, LONDON 2013 - MONTREAL I.F.F. - World, 2013 - ATHENS I.F.F. - Greece 2013 - KOLKATA I.F.F. - Kolkata, India 2013 - ISTANBUL I.F.F. - Constantinople 2014 - BRUSSELS I.F.F. - Belgium2014 - HAMBURG Intern. Filmfest- Germany 2014 - TBILISI I.F.F. - Georgia 2014 - TALIN Black Nights F.F. – Estonia 2014 - BUCHAREST European F.F. - Romania 2015 - European Union F.F. in TORONTO - Canada 2015 - Los Angeles Greek FilmFestival 2014 - New York City Gr.F.F. 2014 - San Fransisco Gr.F.F. 2014 - Edinburgh Gr.F.F. - Scotland2014 - Nürnberg Griechische Filmtage - Nuremberg, Germany 2014 SEVERAL EVENTS - Danish Film Cinemateket, Ny Græsk Film - Copenhagen 2014 - C.C.H., Panorama du Cinéma Grec - Le Balzac, Paris 2015 - Greeks in Moscow, Six Contemporary Gr. Films - Moscow 2016 |