COSTAS FERRIS

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB. 

Greece, 1983.  Greek Film Center, Greek Television ET-1, Rembetiko Ltd..  Screenplay by Costas Ferris, Sotiria Leonardou.  Cinematography by Takis Zervoulakos.  Produced by Costas Ferris, George Zervoulakos.  Music by Stavros Xarhakos.  Production Design by Manolis Maridakis.  Costume Design by Maria Maniati.  Film Editing by Yanna Spyropoulou.  

Lurid tale in which art not only imitates life, it becomes it. A young singer joins a group of Rembetes, musicians and singers who perform a style of music that could be called the Greek equivalent to the blues. Taking place over a period of politically turbulent times, from the twenties until the late fifties, it follows Sotiria Leonardou (playing a character based on a real-life singer) as she goes from a difficult childhood through to national success and into decline at a very young age. Time period recreation is exceptional, and the film is dramatically quite rich, but some viewers might be turned off by the relentlessly downward tone and the dark photography. However, it does feature a beautiful musical score and lots of great songs.

Berlin Film Festival:  In Competition