In a Greek village, Eleni and her lover Christos, murder Costas (Eleni's husband). They bury the body nearby and attempt to flee the country, but when this goes wrong, Eleni and Christos, return to the village, just as the police investigation is beginning. After the sister-in-law suspects them and alerts the police, they eventually confess to the crime.
Theo Angelopoulos is one of those few directors which is known for never having made a bad film. I decided to purchase "The Theo Angelopoulos Collection Vol 1", in a hope to start watching his films. The only other Greek film I have seen is 'Dogtooth' and I knew this would have been completely different. However, I think I should have began with his later, more accessible work, rather than his early historical epics.
It's a simple story, but the difference is that the audience knows who murdered him, as the film begins. The film focuses on Eleni and Christos as the main characters, and I'm going to be honest here, they're not the most likeable people. Christos is an immigrant, and Eleni is a bar-maid, and their love deteriorates during the film time. They weren't that loving towards each other at the start of the film either (Eleni gets a giant slap by Christos during the first 10 minutes), and the husband was the most likeable person in the film. He did nothing wrong, but was strangled by two lovebirds. It's Similar to Goddard's 'Week-End' or Greenaway's 'The Baby of Macon' as the main characters are irritating little pricks.
The film does show Greece in a dim, neorealist light. The cinematography may be the best aspect of this film , but the village is eroding and the villagers seem rude and unattractive. One character complains about how the young people are migrating to the cities, leaving the old people in the villages. So every now and then, the film complains about the historical context and how the country is falling into ruin. It may be hard to believe, but the events which occurred in this film happened in real life... In that village! Many of the villagers where there when the actual murder took place. But take a look at the villagers now and... Well... Lets just say the Eastern Europe old granny stereotype, is still very much a thing.
The picturesque mountain landscape, the strange look of eroding village and how the camera-shots are long in duration and a long distance from the characters, prove that Angelopoulos has a distinct and beautiful style. I really anticipate to see one of his colour films, as I've seen screenshots and they look far more beautiful. The black and white, used here, just depresses the atmosphere of the film even more.
TO CONCLUDE
A vacant and miserable film. It does interest me in the work of Angelopoulos.
SCORE
64
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