“Akouse me” is a voyage into cruelty, turmoil, tragedy, suffering, bullying and a small measure of redemption. Valmira (Efthalia Papacosta) is a 16-year-old girl attending a progressive school for the deaf in Athens. As the term ends she returns to a small village Katarrakis on the island of Chios in the Eastern Aegean to theContinue reading “The 4th Annual Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “Listen” (Akouse me)”
Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)
The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “The Promotion”
“The Promotion” could only have been made by a film director about a film director who is himself! It rolls along like a traditional film. In 1973 Nikos (Alexandros Logothetis) and his father Mr. Andrikos (Vasilis Kolovos) take the train from Athens to Thessaloniki. Mr. Andrikos wants to see where his son Nikos is livingContinue reading “The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “The Promotion””
The 4th Annual Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “The Strangers’ Case”
“The Strangers’ Case” was filmed in Jordan, Turkey and Greece. It recounts the journey of several refugees from Aleppo in Syria to the island of Lesvos, Greece in the Eastern Aegean Sea. Amira is a successful pediatric radiologist working in a hospital that is running short of supplies but is never short of blood andContinue reading “The 4th Annual Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “The Strangers’ Case””
The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “Lost on Kythera”
“Lost on Kythera” is a comedic spoof not afraid to jab here and there. It carries on a spoofing and satirical streak like Greek cinema of the 1960’s and 1970’s and at times verges on slapstick. Louie (Louie Betton) and Maria (Nancy Boukli) both university students are twenty months into a romantic relationship and haveContinue reading “The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “Lost on Kythera””
The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “Murderess” (Fonissa)
One of the very special films showing at the upcoming 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada) (GIFFT) showing in 11 Canadian cities 1-31October2024, Fonissa, had the highest box office sales in Greece for 2023. It is based on an Alexandros Papadiamantis novel of the same name published in 1912. Set in a small villageContinue reading “The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “Murderess” (Fonissa)”
RKS 2024 Film: “Starve Acre”: Don’t Mess with the Sacred Oak Tree!
Juliette (Morfydd Clark) and her academic archaeologist husband Richard (Matt Smith) live in an inherited family farm in the English countryside. Richard, who teaches the history of ancient British tribes, believes there was once a sacred oak tree on the property where the ancient gathered and may have even hung people. At a county fairContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Starve Acre”: Don’t Mess with the Sacred Oak Tree!”
RKS 2024 Film: “SURF NATION”: Imposed Serfdom and Mediocre Surfers
“SURF NATION” spans 2019 and 2020 following the trials and tribulations of young Chinese surfers at the Chinese National Surfing Academy in Hainan, China. China, in the true spirit of the “National Plan”, launches a massive effort for China to qualify for the surfing competition at the 2020 summer Olympics. China did not qualify. InContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “SURF NATION”: Imposed Serfdom and Mediocre Surfers”
RKS Literature: A Kiss Without the Passion of the Universe (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
“He kissed her without enjoying it. He knew that there was passion there, but there was no shadow of it in her eyes or on her mouth; there was a faint spray of champagne on her breath. She clung nearer desperately and once more he kissed her and was chilled by the innocence of herContinue reading “RKS Literature: A Kiss Without the Passion of the Universe (F. Scott Fitzgerald)”
RKS 2024 Wine: Famille Perrin 2023 Tavel: Bardot or Twiggy?
As far a rosé goes the darker the pink the happier I am. Those wimpy pale rosés strike me with their acidity and thinness. By way of a bad analogy would you prefer to date Brigitte Bardot or Twiggy? Aroma: Loads of raspberry with strawberry, red cherry, wet stone and a tiny bit of cottonContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Famille Perrin 2023 Tavel: Bardot or Twiggy?”
RKS 2024 Wine: Some Higher End Bordeaux: Château Clarke 2016
There is an ample supply at Vintages (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) of red Bordeaux under $25. Are they so much inferior to a Château Clarke 2016 from Baron Edmond de Rothschild at $55? This wine is a blend of 70 % Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aroma: A forceful and dense nose of plum,Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Some Higher End Bordeaux: Château Clarke 2016”
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