Great play, fascinating Greek culture and a classic story told in an interesting manner

Rating: 9/10 (18 January 2003)

It is a love story and there are so many of them in the movie industry but still, it seems different. Is it because of the actors, who play as there were actually there, at that time and make us believe that these events are really occurring? (it is surprising to see how much effort was made just to get the Greek accent when they are speaking in English!)Is it because we're not used to seeing stories taking place in amazing greek islands which have, in a weird way, something very familiar: in a way it's very far but you feel very close to those characters, this place, the events..If you like Greek culture, there is great chance you'll feel the same way. Besides,it is a love story which takes place during world war two. It sounds like you already know how the story is going to end right from the start but you don't. you only think you do! The director doesn't try to make a drama. Even in the saddest moment, hope reappears. He mostly prefers to leave some parts to our imagination, which could have been extended much more by other directors. There isn't any exaggeration from the director's part, even if it's a love story he never insists in extending the scenes where something actually happens between the lovers, he prefers to concentrate on preliminary acts(!). The war,shown the same way, is much more effective from our side, it is fast and hard. At the end there is this feeling of having listened to a enchanting song:it was melancholic and joyful, and it was worth it.