"Lais" open-air cinema and selected online screenings
From 9 to 23 September 2021
Ticket: 5€
The Greek Film Archive, in collaboration with the French Embassy, the Institut français de Grèce, the Cinémathèque Française and the Ministry of Culture and Sports, with the support of the CNC (Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image Animée), GFC (Greek Film Centre) and the archives of ERT, celebrate the friendship between Greece and France, by organising an extensive tribute, on the shared cinematic history of these two countries, titled: GREECE-FRANCE: CINEMA DIALOGUES. This ambitious cinematic tribute was designed, in view of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, of 1821.
The Greek-French friendship, was forged during the Revolution of 1821, and has paved the foundation for an influential philhellenic movement in France—leaving its legacy, in an ongoing and fruitful collaboration, in the cultural sphere of these two countries. A result of this dialogue was the formation of a close relationship between Henri Langlois (founder of the Cinémathèque Française) and Aglaia Mitropoulou, in the creation of the Greek Film Archive. The fruits of this close relationship and its labours—which have gone beyond the death of its two founders—have transpired into a collaboration with Costa-Gavras, President of the Cinémathèque Française, laying solid foundations for future activities and initiatives.
It is important to remember, that during the 1960-1980s, many Greek filmmakers studied at the infamous La Fémis (formerly known as IDHEC), such as Tonia Marketaki, Nikos Panayiotopoulos, Antoinetta Angelidi, whilst great film directors like Theo Angelopoulos, studied under Jean Rouch (a founder of French cinema). Others, such as Roviros Manthoulis relocated to Paris, in order to avoid the Junta and had a brilliant career in television and cinema. Thus, the Greek spirit—but also the historical adventures of a younger hellenism—inspired other directors and Greeks studying in France.
A culmination of this continuous relationship was the recent collaboration between the Greek Film Archive and the Cinémathèque Français, in the restoration and digitization of The Apaches of Athens (1930) by Dimitris Gaziadis.
THE TRIBUTE
The expansive tribute by the Greek Film Archive, is here, to highlight this invaluable cross-cultural interaction, through a rich programme including 45 films, divided into three main themes:
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Dialogue between Film Archives: from Henri Langlois to Jean Rouch, Claude Berri and Costa-Gavras: includes landmark cinephile films, which defined the relations between Greece and France’s film archives. We'll have the chance to watch films from the cinematic avant-garde of the Interwar Period, restored by the Cinémathèque Française (Intermission, The Fall of the House of Usher, La Chienne, Zero for Conduct).
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French influences on Greek cinema: will highlight the influences of French cinema on Greek cinema.The programme includes landmark films from Theo Angelopoulos, Dimos Theos, Tonia Marketaki, Antoinetta Angelidi, Maria Gavala and Theodoros Soumas,includes landmark films from Theo Angelopoulos, Dimos Theos, Tonia Marketaki, Antoinetta Angelidi, Maria Gavala and Theodoros Soumas.
- Greece in French Productions: Finally, the third thematic section is a tribute focusing on the cinematic depiction of Greece—both classical and modern—in French cinema. Indicatively, films by Jean Cocteau, Roviros Manthoulis, Adonis Kyrou, Costa-Gavras and Jean-Daniel Pollet, will be screened.
- Special screenings: will include French films with important Greek contributions, such as that of director of photography Giorgos Arvanitis (directed by Jean-Jacques Andrien) or an avant-garde film by Maria Klonaris. As a tribute to the hundred years, since the birth of the internationally appreciated Michael Cacoyannis, the emblematic film Zorba the Greek will be screened. A film, with three oscars under its belt: cinematography by Walter Lassally, art direction-set decoration by Vasilis Fotopoulos and of course, best actress in a supporting role by Lila Kedrova as Madame Hortense. In a special screening, we will also present The Apaches of Athens by Dimitris Gaziadis.
With the subsection New Greek Filmmakers in French Festivals, which includes some of the most important new Greek filmmakers, who have excelled in recent years with their short films, in Clermont-Ferrand and Cannes, receiving distinctions and awards. Vasilis Kekatos was the first Greek film director to be honoured with a short film Palme d’Or at Cannes, for his short film The Distance Between Us and the Sky.
Online screenings: During this fortnight (9-23 September) the Film Archive, will present a series of online films, on its platform (online.tainiothiki.gr) and the platform of Cinémathèque française. [for more details check the help page here]
The Opening Film on Thursday 9 September will be The Hunters by Theo Angelopoulos. During the 15-day period, films will be prefaced by their creators: Giorgos Arvanitis and Jean-Jacques Andrien, Eva Stefani, Thanos Anastopoulos, Antoinetta Angelidi, Kostas Ferris, Stella Theodoraki, Katerina Thomadaki as well as some of the short filmmakers. The programme will also include a roundtable discussion, on the conservation and digitisation of films; in which representatives from the Cinémathèque Française, the Ministry of Culture and the Greek Film Archive will participate. The discussion will take place on Saturday 18/9 (19:30).
As Maria Komninos, president of the Greek Film Archive notes, in 1950-1960 we had the emergence of the first wave of cinephilia in Greece, through the screenings of classic French masterpieces, sent by the Cinémathèque Française. According to Langlois himself, Greek directors went to the Athens Film Club, “to breathe cinema”. The second wave of Greek cinephilia, appeared—and grew—during the years of the dictatorship and marked the creation of the New Greek Cinema; inspired by the Nouvelle Vague. The young directors of the 60s, had transformed the neo-classical building in Kanari Street, into their hangout (the old building of the Greek Film Archive).
Through the journey of Greek creators, to the mutual recognition and enthusiasm between French and Greek audiences for the cinematic works of both countries, cinema has proven to be a prime example, of the uninterrupted and ongoing, cultural dialogue between France and Greece.
The tribute “Greece-France: Cinema Dialogues”, showcases the work of important creators; Greek and French, who forged the cultural cinematic bonds of our two countries: from Theo Angelopoulos, Jules Dassin, Nikos Panayiotopoulos and Michael Cacoyannis, to Costa-Gavras, François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Éric Rohmer, Robert Bresson, Roviros Manthoulis—but also younger generations of filmmakers, such as Eva Stefani, Thanos Anastopoulos and Konstantina Kotzamani.
A unique opportunity for audiences to catch up on landmarks of film history, on the silver screen.
COSTA-GAVRAS
The great director and president of the Cinémathèque Française, in his first discussion with Maria Komninos, summarised the cultural relations of these 2 countries in his prologue, whilst making an interesting connection with Delphi, which he plans to visit:
“Delphi, where French know-how, brought to light and to the public eye, centuries of hellenic civilisation—not to plunder it, but rather to offer it to its heirs, who at the time had insufficient knowledge, for such archaeological studies […]. In France, 126 years have passed from the birth of the moving image and cinema. Today, Greek filmmakers and their works, have found their place, and even attained a status of affinity and admiration amongst French audiences.
The idea of the Cinémathèque (derived from the Greek root-word) was inspired by Henri Langlois when in Paris, and adopted in Athens by Aglaia Mitropoulou, whom Langlois greatly admired and devoutly supported. Since then, the offshoots of these close relations have never been severed—to the contrary—they have only blossomed, reaching this year’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Revolution and liberation of Greece” …
THE FILMS
Below, is the complete list of feature and short length films, programmed for screening at the “Lais” open air cinema:
THURSDAY 9/9
The Hunters (Theo Angelopoulos, 1977)
Friday 10/9
The Son of Amir is Dead! (Jean-Jacques Andrien, 1975)
Bathers (Eva Stefani, 2008)
Cousin, Cousin, Pirogue, Gondola (Jean Rouch, 1985)
SATURDAY 11/9
My Night at Mauds (Éric Rohmer, 1968)
The Color of Iris (Nikos Panayiotopoulos, 1985)
SUNDAY 12/9
Day for Night (François Truffaut, 1973)
Zero for Conduct (Jean Vigo, 1933)
The Fall of the House of Usher (Jean Epstein, 1928)
MONDAY 13/9
Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (Jacques Tati, 1953)
On Love (Maria Gavala, Theodoros Soumas, 1982)
TUESDAY 14/9
Letter from Charleroi (Lambros Liaropoulos, 1965)
Correction (Thanos Anastopoulos, 2007)
WEDNESDAY 15/9
Intermission (René Clair, 1924)
Variations on the Same Theme (Antoinetta Angelidi, 1977)
The World Is Yours (Romain Gavras, 2018)
THURSDAY 16/9
Double Moon in August (Kostas Ferris, 1978)
Three Days in Greece (Jean-Daniel Pollet, 1991)
FRIDAY 17/9
Muriel or the Time of Return (Alain Resnais, 1963)
The Bitch (Jean Renoir, 1931)
SATURDAY 18/9
The Apaches of Athens (Dimitris Gaziadis, 1930)
Ζ (Costa-Gavras, 1969)
SUNDAY 19/9
He Who Must Die (Jules Dassin, 1957)
Pickpocket (Robert Bresson, 1959)
MONDAY 20/9
Breathless (Jean-Luc Godard, 1960)
Close so Close (Stella Theodoraki, 2002)
TUESDAY 21/9
Kha. The Embalmed (M.Klonaris & K. Thomadaki, 1979-1980)
Followed by a series of Greek short films:
The Distance Between Us and the Sky (Vasilis Kekatos 2019)
Electric Swan (Konstantina Kotzamani, 2019)
Third Kind (Yorgos Zois, 2018)
Route-3 (Thanasis Neofotistos, 2019)
All the Fires the Fire (Efthimis Kosemund Sanidis, 2019)
First Love (Haris Raftogiannis, 2020)
WEDNESDAY 22/9
Zorba The Greek (Michael Cacoyannis, 1964)
THURSDAY 23/9
Bassae (Jean-Daniel Pollet, 1964)
Mediterranean (Jean-Daniel Pollet, 1963)
L'ordre (Jean-Daniel Pollet, 1973)
I Remember You Leaving All the Time (Frieda Liappa, 1977)
AND ONLINE SCREENINGS
The following films will be screened at the Film Archive’s online platform: online.tainiothiki.gr:
The two following documentaries will be screened on the platform of Cinémathèque française:
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Let's Talk About Cinema, Chapter 21, the anti-lessons of Henri Langlois / Parlons cinéma, chapitre 21 Les anticours d’Henri Langlois (Harry Fischbach, 1977)
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Conversation with Henri Langlois / Conversation avec Henri Langlois (Pierre-André Boutang, 1975)
-Ticket per screening: 5 €
- 10-screenings pass: 30€
The historic “Lais” open air cinema, continues to operate with safety, strictly adhering to the Ministry of Culture’s health and safety protocols
The tribute «GREECE-FRANCE: Cinema Dialogues” is organised by the Greek Film Archive and is carried out in the context “Cinephilia in the New Age II” which is funded by the European Union — European Regional Development Fund (Operational Programme ROP ATTIKI of NSRF 2014-2020)
Greece-France: Cinema dialogues
"Lais" open-air cinema and selected online screenings
From 9 to 23 September 2021
Ticket: 5€
The Greek Film Archive, in collaboration with the French Embassy, the Institut français de Grèce, the Cinémathèque Française and the Ministry of Culture and Sports, with the support of the CNC (Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image Animée), GFC (Greek Film Centre) and the archives of ERT, celebrate the friendship between Greece and France, by organising an extensive tribute, on the shared cinematic history of these two countries, titled: GREECE-FRANCE: CINEMA DIALOGUES. This ambitious cinematic tribute was designed, in view of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, of 1821.
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