The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada) will be showing in 11 Canadian cities with some selections being available online. It runs from 1-31 October2024.
“At All Costs” is a stylish and dense Nouveau Film Noir short from writer and director Christos Prantzalos. It has taken me two watches to somewhat understand it and even then I suspect there are no concrete answers as to who did what and why. My advice is pay very close attention as lose your concentration you may be totally baffled. What is on the stolen tablet may be where the Gordian Knot is being untied at least partially.
Achilleas (Agatoklis Gardikis) runs an illegal computerized casino with his father. The casino is busted by the police and his father hauled away. His father says “they” want an initial payment of 10,000 Euros followed by another 8,000. Not having the funds Achilleas scans the bar code of a bus shelter advertisement that offers easy money. A voice on his phone sets forth the challenges if carried out successfully will be rewarded with a payout. One involves breaking into a building and stealing a key and the next is break into a residence using that key and stealing a tablet. It is on the tablet and in Achilleas’ memory the crux of the story reveals itself.
The story contained in video files on the laptop reveals corruption of a high-ranking civil servant and a coverup central to the death of his sister. Pay attention to the police officer questioning Achilleas’ family comforting them saying justice must be done. Is justice finally done on a Thessaloniki rooftop? Just who is the controlling force behind this voice on Achilleas’ phone? Who is the man watching the drama on the Thessaloniki rooftop?
You may difficulty figuring out the conclusion of the film but you will enjoy trying to untie the Gordian Knot.
Justice being achieved is not a certainty. It is a gamble.
For screening of this Hellenic short check out the festival’s website at https://gifft.ca .
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