Theodoros Angelopoulos took a Golden Palm at Cannes for this film by unanimous vote. Of course, it was also a big winner at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, winning several wards, including one for Helene Gerasimidou, who played Urania.
The cinematography was extremely beautiful, but it was Eleni Karaindrou's and Mikis Theodorakis' music that ready made this a pleasurable experience. Of course, Angelopoulos is criticized by some for leaving his political film-making now that the dictatorship is over and creating a body of pretty-looking, but increasingly empty and self-indulgent work. Sometimes, self-indulgence is good.
As Alexandre (Bruno Ganz) faces his last day, we are taken to the past and see his now dead wife Anna (Isabelle Renauld) as she lived. He visits relatives, but he is increasingly disappointed that life hasn't really worked out the way he wanted.
H rescues a little boy from kidnappers who are selling children to rich Greeks. He tries to help the boy, but he is again frustrated. Finally, he takes the boy and joins him on a trip to his native Albania.
It is only through our connection to others that we truly experience life and all it's magic.
The cinematography was extremely beautiful, but it was Eleni Karaindrou's and Mikis Theodorakis' music that ready made this a pleasurable experience. Of course, Angelopoulos is criticized by some for leaving his political film-making now that the dictatorship is over and creating a body of pretty-looking, but increasingly empty and self-indulgent work. Sometimes, self-indulgence is good.
As Alexandre (Bruno Ganz) faces his last day, we are taken to the past and see his now dead wife Anna (Isabelle Renauld) as she lived. He visits relatives, but he is increasingly disappointed that life hasn't really worked out the way he wanted.
H rescues a little boy from kidnappers who are selling children to rich Greeks. He tries to help the boy, but he is again frustrated. Finally, he takes the boy and joins him on a trip to his native Albania.
It is only through our connection to others that we truly experience life and all it's magic.