Antigoni Amanitou from Nikos Koundouros' "1922" [Greece 1978]

In "1922", Nikos Koundouros recreates events from the little known Greek genocide towards the end of the Greco-Turkish war of 1919-1922 where, within the single province of Anatolia alone (present day Turkey), about a third of a million civilian Greeks were systematically eliminated through pogroms, officially sanctioned death marches and starvation. This crime against humanity was conducted under the guise of a Turkey - successor state to the Ottoman Empire asserting its credentials in the region.

I've had this DVD for a while, but postponed writing about it because it came without English subtitles, and I've been looking for separate subtitles for it since. But I feel it is the right moment to post this film even with my present diminished ability to absorb its profoundness. To explain why, I need to digress from the blog's topic for a moment.

Current events in Greece have been upsetting to say the least. Here we have the European cradle of civilisation being told how to conduct its own affairs by northern neighbours who owe so much of their own success to ideas and thoughts that emanated here. And following their instructions apparently is the only way that the people who invented the very idea of 'Europe' could even stay within its union. I'm no economist, but judging by my own affairs, it's pretty evident that these so-called austerity measures will if anything only worsen its economy and make it more indebted in the medium term. Just as we can't expect 'neighbourly' hard-nosed economies to show any gratitude to a people for everything they've borrowed over millennia including coinage itself, we can't prevent ambitious neighbours from riding roughshod whenever they feel their time has come. Greece had been unduly trampled upon during the course of its recent history, it is again today. And Nikos Koundouros' "1922" can be seen allegorically to describe Greece's predicament.




About the film:
We follow, through the main characters' experiences the horror of the genocide, as Turkish troops and Muslim mercenaries round up the Greek and mainly non-muslim population living in Anatolia - a region they claim, to indulge in indiscriminate slaughter, rape and lead the surviving ones to their death in the desert. The film is relentless in the manner in which it drives you down, you can plainly see that there is no hope for the doomed group. The only relief on their way is from the Red Cross, too late for many to be of any help - as they only end up collecting and documenting carcasses left in the death march trail. Even if the film doesn't depict violent scenes, a lot of the horror is implied through what we see before they happen, and its aftermath. Dialogues peter out as the film approaches its end, and what we see are some truly heart-rending scenes which capture the utter despair of the victims and the total ambivalence of their captors, who while not being outright barbaric, show what it means to be enforcers of a nation's fascist agenda.

The director succeeds magnificently in narrating a story using assorted events, turning his audience into a bystander bearing witness to the unfolding tragedy - everything we see is at eye level. Contrasting scenes are also allowed to overlap to capture the irony behind all this, and Koundouros studiously attempts to stay away from propaganda. He succeeds there too. The cinematography is rich and the magnificent landscape is made to contrast with events happening on the ground. The soundtrack is magical, enhancing the drama in each scene, even through its silent moments. The performances by all the main characters are very good, and some are exceptionally heart-felt. On many an occasion, characters break the fourth wall and talk to the audience, it's a shame I cannot write anything about it for obvious reasons. But despite me able to savour only about half of what the film intended, it is amply evident that this is another superlative gem from a Greek master whose filmography I've so thoroughly come to enjoy. Highly Recommended Viewing..!

ebay DVD Link




Compilation: Antigoni Amanitou and others
Some scenes do not contain nudity and the ones that do aren't the least erotic. They are disturbing nevertheless, so view at your own discretion.



Scene Guide:

• No nudity but I felt it necessary to show the context of this film, as Turkish troops summon residents to come outside, only to massacre the entire family afterwards.
• A young Greek soldier enters a home to find its entire occupants dead.
• A passing shot of what looks like a humiliated priest and his family.
• Lucia is separated from her husband and taken turns by soldiers to be raped. Lucia is played by Antigoni Amanitou. I've also inserted in between a monologue by the character played by Eleonora Stathopoulou as I think it is an important scene, and would be grateful if someone who knows Greek could translate it for us.
• After killing the rapist, a hysterical Lucia cuts off her hair, presumably wanting to make herself less desirable.

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Antigoni Amanitou & co in "Bordello" [1985, Greece]

Intrigued by the earlier film of Nikos Koundouros, I decided to check out one of his later films, and as expected, it sure was different..!

His 1985 drama, "Bordello" [aka "Bordelo"] is set during the last days of Ottoman Crete when the island was occupied and controlled by Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and France, ostensibly to monitor a peace treaty but with their own hidden agenda. The film starts with a group of women - "The Ladies from Marseille", landing in the port town of Chania - enterprising prostitutes hoping to take advantage of the new demand caused by the influx of the various armies. Led by Rosa Bonaparte, they settle in a mansion to start business. The film follows the politics played out at the bordello by the customers' vested interests, not least the Cretan revolutionaries who want independence from Ottoman Turkey. The women also get reluctantly sucked into the politics of a foreign land, one they wish they hadn't come to.

The film is exquisitely made, even if it doesn't reach the poetic heights of Mikres Aphrodites. The set design, lighting and shot selection is outlandish and evocative of Fellini's "Satyricon". The acting performances range from the eccentric to the utterly ridiculous, but it all somehow works in this bizarre film. The cinematography and editing is quite good, and the film held my attention throughout even if I hadn't a clue what's going on in the scenes where they speak either Greek or Russian (sadly my DVD came only with Greek subtitles). There are some silly directorial mistakes, but nothing major. The costumes and make-up is very well done, but I especially loved the fabulous eye-liners of these ladies - charming, sexy, and so Greek. Add to this the extraordinary nude scenes - women filmed from unusual angles, but artistic nevertheless. The film is a visual feast, and for that reason, Highly Recommended Viewing..!

DVD Order Link




Compilation: Eleonora Stathopoulos, Agapi Manoura, Antigone Anamitou, Monika Impels, Elena Mirtsofska, Alexandra Pavlidis, Marina Vlady, Eugenia Olympiou, and various unknowns
This is a large compilation even by usual standards, but definitely worth checking out before you decide to buy the film. I've used the names as displayed in the film credits, some of which are spelt differently in IMDB.



Scene Guide:

• Sarah doesn't like the local Cretan woman in the house, and asks her naked friend to convey how she feels - the dialogues here are in English so you should be able to follow. Sarah is played by Eleonora Stathopoulos. Unfortunately I couldn't identify her rather interesting naked friend - if someone knows, please let us know through the comments.
• A British officer takes a shine to compatriot Emma Harvey. Emma is played by Agapi Manoura. There's another lady spreading her legs in the bed next to them, whose name I couldn't figure out either.
• Antigone is one of many crazy woman at the bordello - but she's also Greek, and could converse with the locals in their language. Sexy Antigone is played by Antigoni Amanitou (credited as Antigone Anamitou). She bites a client's finger when he rejects her proposition.
• Awesome scene as the drunk Russian captain doffs glasses of vodka while carrying cute and naked Monica on his back. The captain tries to chat up the Polish lady Irena, but she rebuffs his overtures. Monica slips through when he puts her down to talk to a Cretan revolutionary called Vasilis, and is later found fooling around with Antigone and a sailor boy. Monica is played by Monica Innbells (credited as Monika Impels), and the Polish Irena is played by Elena Mirchovska (credited as Elena Mirtsofska).
• Antigone and Anita topless in a crowded room as grand lady Rosa Bonaparte picks up a punter, played by veteran actress Marina Vlady - she had aged magnificently since I last saw her in a Marco Ferreri film, "L'Ape Regina". Buxom Anita is played by Alexandra Pavlidou (credited as Alexandra Pavlidis).
• Sarah approaches the sweaty and topless Antigone and couldn't contain herself.
• Sarah apparently is still a virgin - one can see why from their bizarre conversation in the bath. Irena has some tales to tell too as she's scrubbed by young Tania, played by Tania Tripi..!
• Sarah fancies Vasilis, but he's not interested - and so she blames the 'witch' - the Cretan woman, played by Evgenia Olybiou (credited as Eugenia Olympiou).
• Bizarre scene - and how Cretan..! The British officer challenges any woman to make love to the 'monster' Minotaur for One Hundred Pounds, and Sarah chooses that moment to not only make some money, but also to loose her virginity. There's a non-nude scene (actually, a murder) in between which I left in - I think it was made rather well.
• The ladies find themselves back on the street, in pouring rain - Antigone has had enough and wants the others to follow her out of the island.

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Kleopatra Rota & Eleni Prokopiou in "Mikres Afrodites" [1963 Greece]

Nikos Koundouros' film "Mikres Afrodites" [Eng. Title: Young Aphrodites] is a magnificent example of cinema with magical realism. Since I knew nothing about this fine director, watching the film drew frequent comparisons to eastern masters of cinema like Akira Kurosawa and Satyajit Ray, but more closely Pier Paolo Pasolini. I'm lost for words to describe the film's beauty, but boy am I glad to have bumped into this gem!

Inspired by an ancient play by Longus (Daphnis and Chloe), which is based on an even ancient Theocritan myth - Daphnis and Aphrodite, the screenplay is creatively interpreted and directed to make this a truly timeless classic. It is not a strict interpretation of the play itself though - the film is much darker, and examines not only coming-of-age, but also male-female dynamics in a very modern way. Koundouros narrates two parallel stories within the film whose characters interact during its course, each drawing on the other's experiences - while one story is about adolescent love, the other is about adult desires. It is a very visual film, sensual and tastefully done, and the mesmerising soundtrack and Mediterranean locale transport us to a different world altogether - one which we'll wish to stay for a while longer even after the film finishes.




Storyline:
Set around 200 BC, a group of nomadic shepherds arrive at a fishing village in search of water and new pastures. Men in the village are out at sea, and the place inhabited only by women at the time. Young Skymnos is intrigued by local girl Chloe - about his own age, and shepherd Tsakalos is fascinated with an already married Arta. The film captures their mating rituals through sheer visual poetry that transcend cultures - it is 'human'.

I was able to locate a DVD vendor in Greece, and even if this has not been digitally remastered, it is definitely well worth it. Needless to say, Highly Recommended Viewing..!

I've made two compilations, improving on the DVD quality, but these pale in comparison to experiencing the full film - in fact I even feel I may have vandalised a work of art by chopping off bits and pieces. Buy the DVD if you can - this is one film you'd love to watch again and again, and well worth the investment.




Compilation 1: Kleopatra Rota
This is of young Chloe getting to know Skymnos, a shepherd boy about her own age, who'd accompanied his nomadic group from up the hills. She isn't exactly swept off her feet by what she sees - he reeks of sheep and is rough with anyone except his pet fox, but takes pity and offers him a bowl of water. Shymnos also finds Chloe fascinating and for a while is too proud to admit he likes her. But he soon falls in love with her, and is willing to do anything to please. We see two young people come-of-age in front of our eyes - it is nostalgic, and endearing. If some feel prudish about watching something that's only natural and a beautiful part of everyone's life, I can only feel sorry for them. Chloe is played by the adorable Kleopatra Rota.



Scene Guide:

• Chloe offers a thirsty Skymnos her bowl of water.
• After being told off for being unkind to her geese, Skymnos makes peace by offering her a dead stork he discovered by the sea.
• When Chloe sees him watching her with interest, she tells him that in order to impress a woman, a man must offer to make some fire. He tells her they treated women differently from where he came from. Another older shepherd boy is also interested in Chloe, and watches her from a distance.
• Skymnos tries to subdue Chloe but she is as strong as he. She also couldn't help pushing him away even though she likes him.
• Skymnos tries to impress Chloe by making a fire for her. She tells him she still isn't convinced he loves her. He asks her what else he needs to do to prove his love. She asks him to climb a nearby mountain alone at night. When he conveys his apprehensions about being at the mountain where dangerous animals prowl, she tells him that's precisely why she wants him to go there. She also announces the reward for his efforts - she would let him do whatever he wants with her.

Compilation 2: Eleni Prokopiou and Kleopatra Rota
Here we follow the second story - that of beautiful Arta and shepherd Tsakalos, before they meet Chloe and Skymnos towards the end. Arta is played by the sexy Eleni Prokopiou.



Scene Guide:

• Tsakalos turns his charms on lonely and beautiful Arta, already married to a fisherman who's at sea. Arta tries vainly to push him away. No nudity but very sensual scene.
• He tells Arta he could have taken her by force any time, but wants her to accept him willingly instead.
• Arta earns for companionship, but also wants to be virtuous - she wants him to choose between marrying and taking her with him, or leave her alone so she could remain faithful to her husband who she claims loves her dearly.
• When the rains arrive, it is time for Tsakalos and the other shepherds to leave. The fishermen will also return from sea. With time running out, Arta finally offers herself to Tsakalos, but while making love, they're watched by a curious Skymnos and Chloe.
• Skymnos promises Chloe that he will not leave with the other shepherds. She somehow feels he won't be able to stay in the village and love her forever. As it happens, despite Skymnos hiding among the rocks, his men come looking, and take him with them by force (not shown).
• The older shepherd boy succeeds in hiding from his men, and makes his advance on Chloe, now that the way is clear. Chloe resists, but is overwhelmed by the much stronger boy.
• Heartbreaking scene - Skymnos manages to escape from his men and comes looking for Chloe, only to find her with his rival, and apparently enjoying it too.

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