A Guide to Greek Cinema

In the shadow of Mount Chelmos, the orphaned young shepherdess, Golfo, falls in love with the handsome but impecunious herder, Tasos, and they exchange vows of eternal devotion. However, as the self-assured chief-shepherd, Kitsos, is pressing Golfo to marry him instead of her secret beau, Kitsos' spiteful first cousin, Stavroula, sets in motion a malevolent plan, bent on separating the ardent lovers. Before long, Tasos breaks his solemn vow, and Golfo, who is on the verge of insanity, contemplates death. Now, only Tasos and the power of true love can save innocent Golfo. Are they meant to be together?

Against the backdrop of the serpentine Aroania mountain range in Achaea, Peloponnese, somewhere at a tranquil village at the foot of Mount Chelmos, a frail love timidly blooms. More and more, Thimios--the tall stalwart son of Mitros, the community's most prominent member--finds himself unable to resist the effortless charm of beautiful Astero, knowing that his noble feelings for her can put them both in harm's way. Under the clear blue sky of the untamed Greek countryside, the pair of ardent young lovers exchange vows of everlasting devotion before God, unbeknownst to them, however, that Mitros has already decided to marry off Astero to the affluent sheep owner, Stamos. Now, the sun has dimmed, and the melodious birds don't sing; but, love is omnipotent, mightier than the unbendable rules of nature. Are Thimios and Astero, the delicate shepherdess, meant to be together?

Pivoting around the picturesque old Athens of the 1920s and its namesake, the celebrated operetta by Nikos Hatziapostolou, this adaptation invites us to follow the adventures and the romantic entanglements of an Athenian "apache" or city tramp: Kostas, the "Prince". After saving two men from taking a beating from some bullies, the Prince has a chance encounter with the lovely young seamstress, Titika, and just like that, they fall head over heels in love with each other. One short week later, Kostas' friend, Kleon, who is secretly in love with Vera, the beautiful daughter of the nouveau-riche Greek-American, Xenophon Paralis, enlists the help of Kostas to pose as her obnoxious aristocrat suitor, and therefore, choose Kleon instead. However, the Prince has already fallen for Vera, and when oblivious Titika arrives in the mansion to deliver Vera's gown, the truth shines, and an infuriated Paralis kicks him out of the house. Will Kostas ever win back Titika's trust again?

Impossible to ignore the intoxicating charm of the virtuoso violinist and Athenian master of illusion, Mirqua, the eccentric American heiress and elegant dancer, Lily, falls head-over-heels in love with him. And, just like that, a delightfully exciting romance against the backdrop of sacred Acropolis commences; however, a clumsy accident and a chance encounter with the prominent industrialist, Paolo, will set the stage for blind youthful passions, petty betrayal, and bitter heartbreak. Before long, Paolo's vivacious octogenarian sister, Juliet, arrives from exotic, far-off Calcutta, to congratulate him on his imminent marriage to beautiful Lily, unbeknownst to them, however, that love is indomitable. Can Lily resist Mirqua's doleful, melancholy eyes?

In the verdant landscapes of ancient Lesvos, the young and beautiful shepherds, Daphnis and Chloe, grow together. But, as the boy grows into a man, and the girl becomes a woman, the intoxicating spell of first love takes them by surprise, rendering them unable to explain what is happening to them. Not knowing how to answer the incessant call of the flesh, they prepare the ground for rivalry and the romantic advances of ardent admirers. Before long, a handsome prince demands the affection of ripe Chloe, only to face the wrath of Daphnis. Now, the brave man faces death; however, an unexpected secret is about to change everything. Will they let Daphnis and Chloe, the innocent youthful lovers, be together for the rest of their lives?

Unable to eke out an existence in the faceless capital of Greece, the impecunious but ambitious student from the province, Dinos, finds himself between a rock and a hard place. As a result, Dinos, forced to quit university, meanders through the city's bustling streets in search of a job, any job, and, by some miracle, he lands a position as an actor in a small Athenian troupe, where he has a chance encounter with the love of his life: the brilliant actress, Niki. However, as Niki gives in to the lascivious industrialist Michalis Stratakis' romantic advances, a life of misery and despair awaits broken and weary Dinos, who, eventually, finds solace in the company of the honest and hard-working men of Athens' Tobacco Workers' Union, who give him a reason to live. Now, Dinos can wipe the slate clean and start afresh; nevertheless, the police and the palpable threat of incarceration are ever-present. Can a single man alone fight the repulsive social decay?

On the verdant slopes of the Vardousia Mountains, in the small village of mid-nineteenth-century Artotina, Phocis, the wide-eyed sheep-herder, Mitros, experiences the intoxicating effect of first love, and with it, the despair of rejection. As the years swiftly pass by, a now wealthy, and self-assured Mitros returns to his hometown, and by a twist of fate, saves from certain death the inexperienced herder, Liakos, the secret beau of fair Kroustallo. Before long, a precious golden cross--an innocent token of Mitros' appreciation to the young lady--will set the stage for blind jealousy, bitter confrontation, and piteous heartbreak, as a wine-addled Liakos, and the gleaming blade in his hand, drive Kroustallo into the arms of the prosperous antagonist. Will this regretful incident separate forever the star-crossed lovers, or is this the prelude to true love?

Living happily with his supporting wife, Sophia, a refugee from the Caucasus, and their ten-year-old daughter, Rika, the prosperous, self-made farmer and doting husband and father, Loukas, has it all. However, the sudden arrival of his good-for-nothing first cousin to ask him for a loan to cover his gambling bets, and his seductive friend, Rita, will pave the way for heartbreak. More and more, mesmerised by Rita's dangerous allure, gullible Loukas finds himself trapped in the Athenian enchantress' elaborate web of deceit, unable to think clearly. Now, Loukas is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of pitiless and scheming Rita. Will he ever see the error of his ways and escape from her clutches?

Searching for peace of mind, the Athenian faded actress and theatre diva, Miranda Lambridou, arrives in the peaceful island of Hydra. But, there, a chance encounter with Konstadis--a humble local fisherman with a melodious singing voice--will lead to a fervent whirlwind romance behind the back of his faithful girlfriend, Zoitsa. Before long, with the aid of his new lover, Konstadis will find himself in the faceless capital to study music and make a name for himself as a tenor; however, fate has other plans in store for him. Now, Konstadis has to make a hard life decision. Can he renounce fame and glory for the sake of love?

After eighteen long years of incarceration for committing a hideous crime of passion, the weary and disorientated father, Spiros, breathes the air of freedom. Like a fish out of water, Spiros returns to his old neighbourhood in high hopes of starting afresh, and maybe, just maybe, find his former wife, Stella, and through her, his beloved, long-lost daughter whom he has never met. But, there, a chance encounter with the kind seventeen-year-old girl, Lila, will pave the way for an unexpected series of revelations and heartbreak. Could the soft-spoken woman be Spiros' unknown child? Above all, could the clear voice of the heart be lying?

In the waning years of his remarkable career, the virtuoso composer and brilliant musical director, Alpha, takes under his wing the talented but stage-shy young singer, Nora. More and more, as a series of successes catapult charming Nora into the limelight, a silent but powerful undercurrent of all-consuming passion inspires the grizzled mentor to conceive his magnum opus, only to find himself humbled by the cruel certainty of unrequited love. Once, people flocked to theatres to hear Alpha sing and play the piano. Now, it is Nora's turn to taste the intoxicating effect of the audience's enthusiastic applause. Will famous Nora remember Alpha, the artist who sacrificed everything for her?

After spending many years in Athens to study music, Marios Valiris, a talented young violinist, returns to his ancestral home, somewhere in rural Greece. There, the melodious voice of charming Louisa Chrysani catches his attention, and as one thing leads to another, they fall in love. However, World War II breaks out, and Marios is called up for military service in the Greco-Albanian Front, putting on hold the fervent lovers' dreams of a shared future. As a result, with Marios presumed killed in action, devastated Louisa has no other choice but to accept the marriage proposal of the aristocratic and wealthy suitor, Alkis. But, what if Marios is alive, thirsting to pick up where he and Louisa left off? Can love mend two broken hearts?