Mia aioniotita kai mia mera (1998)

Director:

Theodoros Angelopoulos

Writers:

Theodoros Angelopoulos (idea and scenario)
Tonino Guerra (co-writer) ...

Release Date:

28 May 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Alexander, a famous writer, is very ill and has only a few days to live. He meets a little boy on the street, who is an illegal immigrant from Albania. Alexander then takes the boy home.

Plot Keywords:

Greece | Long Take | Emigrant | Poet | Soul Searching

Awards:

10 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Bruno Ganz	...	Alexandre
Isabelle Renauld	...	Anna
Fabrizio Bentivoglio	...	The Poet
Achileas Skevis	...	The Child
Alexandra Ladikou	...	Anna's Mother
Despina Bebedelli	...	Alexandre's Mother
Eleni Gerasimidou	...	Urania
Iris Chatziantoniou	...	Alexandre's Daughter
Nikos Kouros	...	Anna's Uncle
Alekos Oudinotis	...	Anna's Father
Nikos Kolovos	...	The Doctor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andreas Chekouras
Mihalis Giannatos		(as Michalis Yannatos)
Petros Markaris
Yannis Mohlas
Efthimis Pappas	...	Party attendant
Maria Saltiri	...	Woman
Vassilis Seimenis	...	Son-in-Law
Leonidas Vardaros

Also Known As:

Eternity and a Day (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Μια αιωνιότητα και μια μέρα (Greece)
Die Ewigkeit und ein Tag (Germany)
L'éternité et un jour (France)
L'eternità e un giorno (Italy)

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

Greece | France | Germany | Italy

Language:

Greek | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Spain:7 | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Hong Kong:I | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:All | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Thessaloniki, Greece

Company:

Theo Angelopoulos Films

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Hrysa koritsia: (#1.15)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Tis agapis aimata

The art of a master

While not as thoroughly awe-inspiring as "Ulysses Gaze," "Eternity and a Day" is one of the most masterful films I've seen. It is full of beautiful, haunting images that have stayed with me long since seeing it. Like the other Angelopoulos films I've seen, it is a somewhat dense, contemplative film, but it shouldn't be seen as intimidating or unaccessible. The storyline, despite the frequent flashbacks, is easy to follow, the the emotional impact never ceases. An impressive, inspiring film.