Trilogia: To livadi pou dakryzei (2004)

This is the first film of Theo Angelopoulos' trilogy. The story starts in 1919 with some greek refugees from Odessa arriving somewhere near Thessaloniki. Among these people are two small ... See full summary »

Director:

Theodoros Angelopoulos

Writers:

Theodoros Angelopoulos (idea), Theodoros Angelopoulos (screenplay),

Stars:

Alexandra Aidini, Nikos Poursanidis, Giorgos Armenis

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alexandra Aidini	...	Eleni
Nikos Poursanidis	...	Alexis
Giorgos Armenis	...	Nikos
Vasilis Kolovos	...	Spyros
Eva Kotamanidou	...	Kassandra
Toula Stathopoulou	...	Woman in the Coffee House
Thalia Argyriou	...	Danai
Smaro Gaitanidou
Mihalis Giannatos	...	Zisis
Grigoris Evangelatos	...	Teacher
Aliki Kamineli
Amdromachi Chrisomelli
Alex Moukanos
Dimitris Kolovos
Thodoros Teknetzidis

Storyline

This is the first film of Theo Angelopoulos' trilogy. The story starts in 1919 with some greek refugees from Odessa arriving somewhere near Thessaloniki. Among these people are two small kids, Alexis and Eleni. Eleni is an orphan and she is also taken care by Alexis' family. The refugees build a small village somewhere near a river and we watch as the kids grow up and fall in love. But difficult times of dictatorship and war are coming...

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Plot Keywords:

refugee | village | lake | first of trilogy | musician | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance

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Details

Country:

Greece France Italy Germany

Language:

Greek

Release Date:

20 February 2004 (Greece)

Also Known As:

Eleni

Filming Locations:

Thessaloniki, Greece

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$6,015 (USA) (16 September 2005)

Gross:

$24,514 (USA) (3 February 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hellenic Radio & Television (ERT), Attica Art Productions, Networxx - Film Management

Technical Specs

Runtime:

185 min 170 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first in a proposed trilogy about the history of modern Greece which Theodoros Angelopoulos has vowed will be his final films.

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Connections

Referenced in Trilogia - Afieroma sto livadi pou dakryzei (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Eimai erotevmenos me ta matia sou"
Lyrics by Kostas Kofiniotis
Composed by Yiannis Vellas

User Reviews

"A lyrical artwork..."

Greek screenwriter, producer and director Theodoros Angelopoulos' twelfth feature film is a Germany-France-Greece-Italy co-production and the first part of a trilogy about the history of Greece, which tells a story set in Northern Greece 1919 where a group of Greek refugees from the Russian harbour Odessa arrives at a place near Thessaloniki. Amongst them is five-year-old Alexis and three-year-old Eleni. Eleni is an orphaned girl who has been raised by Alexis' family, and since childhood they have developed strong bonds to each other. Thirteen years later Eleni gives birth to two twin brothers which she gives away for adoption. Eleni is promised to Alexis' father Spyros, but on the day of her wedding she escapes with Alexis.

"The Weeping Meadow" opens with a stellar scene where the viewers are introduced to the main characters. It is told through an emphatic narrative structure and filmed with long takes, diverse perspectives and unusually calm camera movements. Greek filmmaker Theodoros Angelopoulos' subtle filming visualizes his affection for images of people, animals and objects reflected in water. The humane and engaging screenplay with minimal use of dialog written by Theodoros Angelopoulos and screenwriters Tonino Guerra, Petros Markaris and Giorgio Silvagni, tells a story which spans over 30 years and examines themes such as love, grief, immigration, fellowship, melancholy, music, war and hope. The old and accurate costume design and the naturalistic milieu depictions reflects the era it portrays with great conviction in this European art film which contains hauntingly beautiful cinematography by cinematographer Andreas Sinanos, reverent acting performances by the actors who personifies the central characters and scenes of such poetic intensity that it touches one's soul.

Watching a Theodoros Angelopoulos film for the first time was reminiscent of the first time watching a film by Andrei Tarkovsky, Andrey Zvyagintsev, Krzysztof Kieslowski and Alexandr Sokurov. His significant individual expression and style of filmmaking aligns him with historic filmmakers like Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini and Michelangelo Antonioni. Most of the acting is interpreted in a low-keyed and internal way which strengthens the effect of the climactic emotional scenes in this quiet and unforgettable movie experience which is filled with an elegiac and longing atmosphere which is increased by composer Eleni Karaindrou's melodic instrumental score. A lyrical artwork directed by a sharp minded visionary.