Greek Language Films
Another way to improve your Greek
In the last newsletter we gave some info on how you can learn to speak at least a little Greek before you visit. To complement that, here’s a list of notable Greek language films. Watching these will certainly improve your Greek, as you listen to the pronunciation of the actors, and see the meaning in the subtitles.
And even if it does nothing for your Greek language skills, hopefully you’ll enjoy these award-winning movies and their settings.
Notable Greek-Language Films
Never on Sunday (1960)
Main actors: Melina Mercouri, Jules Dassin
A spirited prostitute challenges the traditional values of a Greek archaeologist who is determined to "civilize" her.
Won an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Taverna") and Melina Mercouri was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance.
Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Zorba the Greek (1964)
Main actors: Anthony Quinn, Alan Bates, Irene Papas
An English writer visits Crete and encounters the exuberant and life-affirming Zorba.
Won three Academy Awards (Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction)
Watch on Amazon Prime.
The Travelling Players (1975)
Main actors: Manos Katrakis, Aliki Vougiouklaki
A family of traveling actors navigate the challenges of life during the war-torn years of 1939-1952.
Won multiple Greek film awards
Watch: there are DVDs and a VHS version of the film but you’ll have to search around for second-hand copies.
Rembetiko (1983)
Main actors: Manos Katrakis, Giorgos Kourouni
A powerful portrayal of the rebetiko music scene in interwar Greece, exploring themes of social unrest and love.
Won multiple Greek film awards
You can find it on DVD at Amazon.
Voyage to Cythera (1984)
Main actors: Manos Katrakis, Dimitris Papanikolaou
An old man returns to his Greek island home to fulfill a promise to his deceased brother.
Won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival
Again you’ll have to search for a second-hand copy.
Dogtooth (2009)
Main actors: Christos Loulis, Aggeliki Papoulia, Sofia Georgiou
A disturbing and thought-provoking film about three children isolated from the outside world by their eccentric parents.
Won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival
You can find the DVD on Amazon.
Attenberg (2010)
Main actors: Ariane Labed, Vangelis Mourikis
A coming-of-age story about a young woman with Asperger's syndrome who develops an unusual relationship with her father.
Won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival
You can find the DVD on Amazon.
OXI: An Act of Resistance (2014)
Main actors: Christos Loulis, Dimitris Papadopoulos
A historical drama about the Greek resistance against the Nazi occupation during World War II.
Won multiple Greek film awards
You can find the screenplay on Amazon but a copy of the movie is harder to track down.
Chevalier (2015)
Main actors: Nikos Ouzounidis, Yannis Behrakis
A drama about a young man who joins the Greek army to escape his troubled life.
Nominated for several Greek film awards
The DVD version is on Amazon.
So, happy viewing!
Till next time
Mike and Donna
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Headed to eBay!