TASSOS BOULMETIS

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBB

Original title:  Politiki Kouzina

Greece/Turkey, 2003.  Village Roadshow Productions, Greek Film Center, FilmNet, Cinegram, ANS Production, ANS Yapim Yayin Reklamcilik AS, MC2 Productions, P. Papazoglou, Smallridge Investments.  Screenplay by Tassos Boulmetis.  Cinematography by Takis Zervoulakos.  Produced by Harry Antonopoulos, Lily Papadopoulos, Dionyssis Samiotis.  Music by Evanthia Reboutsika.  Production Design by Olga Leontiadou.  Costume Design by Bianca Nikolarizi.  Film Editing by Yorgos Mavropsaridis.  

Charming Greek film about a multi-generational family as seen from the kitchen. A professor of astrology (Georges Corraface) recalls growing up in Constantinople with his epicerie-owning grandfather and his loving parents, all of whom encourage and discourage him to varying degrees regarding his passion for cuisine. A master cook from the age of nine, Corraface also recalls his first love and the journey his family takes when they are rejected from Turkey and forced back to Greece, where they are treated as strangers.

Part boisterous comedy, part political drama, this film works best when it shows the noisy goings on of the main character’s extended family, losing touch with the story as it grows less and less interested with their familial infrastructure and concentrates more on the romantic angle. The characters are all drawn with genuine warmth, and the humorous bits are quite satisfying.